Lawyers for Russians Aleksandr Aleksandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev now say that their defendants falsely claimed to be unemployed. According to the defense, the defendants are employed by the national police of the so-called “LPR.”
The lawyers will ask the court to clarify the question about the men’s employment, considering the language barrier.
“The issue lies in a defect of translation. The translator is not a lawyer. [The question] was translated as: ‘Where are you working now?’ If it was a question about where he worked at the time of detention, it would be another thing. They worked under a contract in the national police of ‘LPR.’ There are documents,” said Aleksandrov’s lawyer Yuriy Hrabovskyy.
“He doesn’t understand why he is called Russia’s serviceman. He said that he was unemployed. The man doesn’t have legal education. … He really doesn’t work, so he considers himself unemployed. However, I am sure that he wasn’t fired and tha he remains an acting member of Luhansk national police,” said Yerofeyev’s lawyer Oksana Sokolovska.
During the trial that started today, the two men claimed to be unemployed.
In a video published in May, Aleksandrov and Yerofeyev said they were on active duty with the Russian military in eastern Ukraine when they were captured on May 16.
Moscow says the two men were no longer employed by the state when they were captured.
Protesters outside the Ukrainian parliament who are demanding deputies vote for laws required by the EU to lift the visa regime, are using Game of Thrones references.
“Cersei also didn’t listen to her people,” this banner reads.
No Ukrainians were killed in Donbas over the past day, but four were injured, said presidential spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk.
The separatists used 120-milimeter mortars near Popasna, he said. Ukrainian positions also came under separatist fire near Horlivka and Shyrokine.
The most unstable situation was reported in the Donetsk suburbs, where separatists reportedly used small arms and grenade launchers.
At the same time, the so-called “DPR” reports that Ukrainians violated the cease-fire regime 11 times and states that the situation in Donbas is worsening. So-called “LPR,” however, has not provided information about the military situation on the territory they control.
“Adopt the laws today, so as not to flee to Rostov [-on-Don] tomorrow,” reads this banner.
The banner refers to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, deposed by Euromaidan protesters in 2014, who fled to the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
The protesters gathered next to the Ukrainian Parliament today to demand the adoption of laws necessary to move on in the visa liberation process with the EU.
Aleksandr Aleksandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev, who had earlier claimed to be Russian military personnel, stated in court today that they were unemployed.
According to an RFE/RL Ukrainian Service correspondent, Yerofeyev also said that he doesn’t understand why he is being called a Russian military man.
Both men pleaded not guilty in charges of terrorism against them.