TASS: defender of Azovstal steelworks died in pre-trial detention centre in ‘DPR’

One of the soldiers defending Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol died in a pre-trial detention centre in the Donetsk “people’s republic”. He was placed there after his surrender, reports Russian state news agency TASS, citing a source in law enforcement.

TASS does not name the deceased. According to the news agency, he was one of the members of the “sabotage and reconnaissance group Medvedi SS”.

“Aside from his chronic diseases, the deceased used to regularly take drugs before surrender and suffered from drug addiction, which exacerbated his health problems. The neo-Nazi died in the pre-trial detention centre,” the source claims. 

TASS reports that he died “before the end of the criminal investigation against all the accused and bringing the cases to trial”. TASS’ interlocutor notes that if the investigation charged him with something, then the case would be closed on non-exculpatory grounds. At the same time, his testimony can be used in other trials.

Members of Medvedi SS became the first persons of interest in the criminal case against the fighters of the Azov regiment. In the “DPR”, they are accused of forming an armed group and participating in it on the territory of a foreign country, training with the goal of conducting terroristic activity, and committing acts aimed at forcible seizure of power and change of the “DPR” constitutional order.

TASS adds that the accused “systematically fought against “DPR”’s soldiers” from autumn 2017 to 20 May 2022. A maximum penalty under the incriminated articles is death penalty.