Addition to previous report
"The actions for which I am being tried were an attempt to prevent a crime being committed in the name of my country."

Judge of the 2nd Western District Military Court Timur Zhidkov found Alexey, Ioann and Timofey Ashcheulov guilty of preparing for treason, attempting to participate in the activities of a terrorist organization and attempting to illegally cross the state border.

This is what one of the condemned, John Ascheulov, said in his last word:

“I believe that the Russian government, on behalf of the Russian state, committed a huge crime. The largest in the 21st century, and continues to commit it. The actions for which I am being tried were an attempt to prevent this crime, committed in the name of my country, my people, and, in particular, on my behalf as a citizen of Russia. The actions of the Russian government, in particular Vladimir Putin, fall exactly within the qualifications of Article 353 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation [planning, preparing or unleashing an aggressive war].

Taking into account the historical context, my actions are counteraction to crime. At the first hearing, I said that I did not consider myself guilty, there was nothing in my actions that would fall under the definition of terrorism or an attempt on it <...> Russia does not need a war against Ukraine, Putin personally needs it. The fact of my birth does not oblige me to support the government in everything. I consider myself a free person and free to choose. I believe that Article 275 [treason] was brought against me for my own opinion and position. My only fault is that I did not adequately counter the crime that the government of my country is committing in my name.

As a rule, the last word asks for leniency, but I will not do this. I think my position is absolutely correct, I think that you don’t have freedom, so you can’t give it to me either. You can give me any sentence - at least 10, at least 20 years - I will treat it the same <...> The loss of part of my life, and, possibly, my health, against the background of many thousands of innocent people who died, looks completely faded. I am responsible for the actions of my government, and many peaceful citizens of Ukraine who died from Russian bombings are absolutely innocent, like hundreds of children of Ukraine <...> I regard the term that will be assigned to me as a payment for not being an accomplice to the crimes that the government of our country commits for defending the freedom of one’s personality.

I do not consider myself a traitor to Russia, I consider Putin a traitor to Russia. That's all I wanted to say".

The judge tried several times to interrupt John's speech, but he managed to finish his speech.

Judge Timur Zhidkov is the same one who sentenced Dasha Trepova to 27 years.

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