The 2nd Western District Military Court of Moscow, at an off-site session in the Vladimir Garrison Military Court, found Gorinov guilty under the article of 'justifying terrorism' and sentenced him to 3 years in a general regime colony, reports SOTAvision* correspondent from the courtroom. In combination with the previous sentence, he was sentenced to five years in a high-security penal colony.
The prosecution requested 3.5 years of imprisonment for Gorinov. Even before the verdict was announced, the politician was put on a professional record as 'prone to terrorism', which he reported before the session.
About 30 people attended the session, including representatives of the European Union, the embassies of Germany and Australia.
The day before, it became clear which phrases the investigation attributes to Gorinov. 'Well, they blew it up — so what? There's a war going on' — about the attack on the Crimean Bridge, and also a response to a cellmate's words about the 'Azov' battalion**: 'What kind of scum is this? These are the armed forces'.
In the debates, lawyer Alena Saveleva noted that Russian media 'themselves equate 'Azov' with the Armed Forces of Ukraine' — yesterday the defense attached the relevant documents. Saveleva lists some of the headlines, for example, 'The Armed Forces of Ukraine transferred Azov members to Chasov Yar'.
'How can we accuse a person of what he said if even the participants in the process do not understand how the enemy's military structure is organized?' — quotes Saveleva correspondent of 'Mediazona'***.
According to the defense, the case lacks the mandatory public element for the article: for example, only one person discussed the Crimean Bridge with Gorinov on January 1, 2023.
In the debates, Gorinov reiterated that the investigation documents were falsified, the testimony of his hospital neighbor completely coincides, and the recording of conversations confirms provocation against him. The ex-deputy believes that his case is a continuation of the first, like 'the second season in the series 'Lost'.
'The third year of war is ending, the third year of unprecedented casualties and destruction on European territory since World War II, the deprivations and sufferings of millions of people. This cannot be silenced,' said Gorinov in his final statement. The judge tried to interrupt him several times and then announced a 10-minute break for Gorinov to 'rethink his final word'. However, Gorinov continued it without the judge, for the listeners.
'My guilt lies in the fact that as a citizen of my country, I allowed this war, could not stop it. And I ask to note this in the verdict. But I would like my guilt and responsibility to be shared with me by the organizers, participants, supporters of the war, as well as the persecutors of those who advocate for peace. I continue to live with the hope that this will happen someday. In the meantime, I ask the people of Ukraine and my fellow citizens affected by the war to forgive me,' noted Gorinov.
In July 2022, Alexey Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in a penal colony due to an anti-war speech at a meeting of municipal deputies of the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow. In the fall of 2023, another criminal case was initiated against him — under the article of 'justifying terrorism' due to conversations with cellmates.
* Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent' and 'undesirable' organization.
** Recognized in Russia as a 'terrorist organization'.
*** Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent'.
Photo: Alexandra Astakhova/Mediazona