On the morning of February 26, 2023, explosions occurred at the Machulishchi airfield near a Russian long-range reconnaissance aircraft DRLV A-50, it was blown up in two places. It was used to guide Russian missiles to targets in Ukraine. It was reported that the aircraft is currently undergoing repairs at the 325th aircraft repair plant, which is part of the Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex in Russia.
The main defendant in the case and, as official bodies and propagandists claimed , the perpetrator of the sabotage, Nikolai Shvets, was released in June in a prisoner exchange with Ukraine.
Nikolai Shvets, Alexander Azarov, Alla Yatsuta, Vitaly Yakutik, Evgenia Tochitskaya, Mikhail Demin and Sergei Loparov were tried in absentia.
Trial outcome 03.10.2024
6 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions (trial in absentia).
On the morning of February 26, 2023, a Russian DRLV A-50 long-range reconnaissance aircraft exploded in two places at the Machulishchi airfield. It was used to guide Russian missiles to targets in Ukraine. It was reported that the aircraft was currently undergoing repairs at the 325th Aircraft Repair Plant, part of the Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex in Russia.
The main defendant in the case and, as official bodies and propagandists claimed , the perpetrator of the sabotage, Nikolai Shvets, was released in June in a prisoner exchange with Ukraine.
Nikolai Shvets, Alexander Azarov, Alla Yatsuta, Vitaly Yakutik, Evgenia Tochitskaya , Mikhail Demin and Sergei Loparov were tried in absentia.
A trial in absentia for the criminal case against Andrei Balmakov, Evgeniya Tochitskaya, Ekaterina Ostrova, and Antonina Naydovich was scheduled for April 22, 2026. All were charged under Part 2 of Article 361-4 (assistance to extremist activity), and Antonina was additionally charged under Article 369 (insulting a government official) of the Criminal Code.
Trial outcome 03.10.2024
15 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, 1000 basic values fine (trial in absentia).
Appeal 27.12.2024
unknown (trial in absentia).
Trial outcome 08.05.2026
unknown years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, 600 basic values fine.
Final verdict by partial addition:
17 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, 1600 basic values fine.
Yanina was convicted in a criminal case opened under articles for “participation in an extremist group,” “inciting hatred and discord,” and “calls for sanctions.” According to the KGB, she was associated with the Telegram channel “Trielit,” which was added to the list of “extremist groups” in January 2024.
Milana Melnik and her mother Natalia Ganiberzina were convicted of “active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order.”
46-year-old Natalia is from Lida and is a hairdresser by profession. Her 25-year-old daughter Milana graduated from Minsk State Linguistic University and worked as an English teacher in the capital, and now teaches online. Probably both women live in Grodno.
It is unknown what sentence the family received. Judging by social networks, at least for Milana it is not associated with imprisonment: she continues to maintain her page. But there hasn’t been a single post on her mother’s account since September 2023.
Trial outcome 22.05.2024:
unknown years of restriction of freedom without direction
Natalia Ganiberzina and Milana Melnik were convicted of “active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order.”
46-year-old Natalia is from Lida and is a hairdresser by profession. Her 25-year-old daughter Milana graduated from Minsk State Linguistic University and worked as an English teacher in the capital, and now teaches online. Probably both women live in Grodno.
It is unknown what sentence the family received. Judging by social networks, at least for Milana it is not associated with imprisonment: she continues to maintain her page. But there hasn’t been a single post on her mother’s account since September 2023.
Angela and her husband were found guilty in August 2024 in a criminal case opened under the article "organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them." The verdict in the case is unknown.
On November 27, 2024, another court hearing was held on the charge of "organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them," following which Angela was sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony.
According to human rights activists, she was released in the fall of 2025, having fully served her sentence imposed by the court.
Trial outcome 07.08.2024
2 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
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