Trial for attempted murder - Penalty for attack on Russian news agency
More than two years after a attempted arson attack on a Russian news agency in Berlin, a Russian has been sentenced to a total of five years and four months in prison. The Landgericht Berlin found the 56-year-old man guilty of attempted murder and attempted arson with fatal consequences, among other charges.
According to the court's conviction, the man placed a incendiary device (USBV) in the cellar shaft of a multi-family house in Berlin-Steglitz, where employees of the Russian news agency Ria Novosti lived, in the Spring of 2022. His intention was to set a "burning torch." According to the court, he did not intend to kill, but accepted the possibility of fatal consequences for his goal.
The unconventional explosive and incendiary device (USBV) failed to ignite for unknown reasons. It was discovered and disarmed by specialists from the Landeskriminalamt Berlin several days later in the cellar.
The accused denied the charges
The man, who was arrested in mid-December 2022, denied the accusations and claimed to be a victim of a plot. The man, who had lived in Germany for decades, made headlines in Berlin with protest actions against the Russian military campaign in Ukraine. In the eleven-month trial, he stated that he wanted to fight Russian President Vladimir Putin "only with legal means."
In addition to the attempted arson attack, the 56-year-old was charged with other crimes. The court therefore also sentenced him for computer fraud, damage to property, and theft of electrical energy.
The General Prosecutor's Office had demanded a sentence of five and a half years in prison. The defense demanded acquittal on the main charge. They did not make a specific request regarding the other charges. The judgment is not yet legally binding.
The judgments in this case were made by the Process (Court) in Germany, which found international interest due to the involvement of Russian media, specifically RIA Novosti. The media widely reported on the attempted murder and arson attempt, largely attributing it to the defendant's opposition towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite the severe charges, the defendant maintained his innocence throughout the trial and claimed to be a victim of a plot. His history in Germany included participating in protests against Russia's military actions in Ukraine.
The court's sentence, however, did not align with the defendant's expectations, as he was given a total of five years and four months in prison. The General Prosecutor's Office had sought a more severe penalty of five and a half years, while the defense had argued for acquittal on the main charge.
The defendant's conviction also included sentences for additional crimes. He was found guilty of computer fraud, damage to property, and theft of electrical energy, further adding to his prison term.
The jury's verdict is not yet final, as it must pass through the appeals process before becoming legally binding. This means the defendant still has an opportunity to challenge the court's judgments.
