The sentence of the pro-Ukrainian activist Vladimir Balukh was shortened for a month

The Crimea Supreme Court controlled by Russia shortened the sentence of the pro-Ukrainian activist Vladimir Balukh for a month, who was convicted to five years in a penal colony. This was reported by “ATS-Info”.

The Judge Elena Sparenova changed the sentence to four years and 11 months in a general regime colony, leaving the fine in the amount of 10 thousand rubles unchanged. Balukh decided not to participate in the session via the video link and, according to the secretary, “refused to leave the cell.” On the 16th of January 2018, Balukh was sentenced to three years and five months of imprisonment in a penal colony, as well as a fine of 10 thousand rubles.

According to the investigation, the police found TNT slabs and ammo in his house. The Crimean Human Rights Group believes that prohibited items could have been planted in the activist’s house. In December 2017 a new criminal case was opened on Balukh on the operational disorganisation in a jail cell (part 2 article321 of the Criminal Code), when the activist was put in the jail cell for storing ammunition.

According to the investigation, Balukh hit the head of the jail cell Valery Tkachenko on the head. Balukh also says that the head of the jail cell beat him and insulted him. On the 5th of July 2018, according to the two criminal cases in aggregate, he was sentenced to five years in a general regime colony and a fine of 10 thousand rubles.