The Novosibirsk Garrison Military Court has sentenced Volodymyr Zelensky, a serviceman with the same surname as the Ukrainian president, to nine years in prison for bribery and stripped him of his military rank, the 2nd Eastern District Military Court reported on its Telegram channel.
„The Novosibirsk Garrison Military Court has announced the conviction of Volodymyr Zelensky. The court sentenced Zelensky to nine years in prison in a maximum security penal colony, a fine of 1.5 million rubles and a four-year ban on holding positions in state bodies related to the exercise of state functions, organizational, managerial and administrative powers. In accordance with Article 48 of the Russian Criminal Code, the court also stripped Zelensky of his military rank,” the statement said.
Zelensky was detained by FSB officers after receiving the first part of the bribe, and the funds were seized.
According to court documents, the soldier demanded 1.5 million rubles for allowing a citizen to demolish a building in the military complex entrusted to him, allowing unhindered access for construction equipment to the complex to carry out the work, and subsequently removing construction debris.