Verdict Expected In Case Of Ukrainian Filmmaker Charged With Terrorism
A Russian court is expected to deliver its verdict on August 25 in the high-profile case of an acclaimed Ukrainian film director accused of masterminding terrorist attacks in Crimea.
Oleh Sentsov, who opposed Russia's March 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula, was arrested in May of that year on suspicion of planning the fire-bombings of pro-Russian organizations in Crimea.
Last week, prosecutors asked the North Caucasus District Military Court to sentence the acclaimed film director to 23 years in prison for allegedly organizing a terrorist group, planning terrorist attacks, and illegally acquiring explosives.
The 39-year-old director denies all charges against him, saying they are politically motivated, and told the court on August 19 that a "trial by occupiers cannot be fair by definition."
Read more here.
U.S. To Deploy F-22 Fighter Jets To Reassure East European Allies
The United States will deploy F-22 fighter jets to Europe soon to support Eastern European members of the NATO alliance unnerved by Russia's intervention in Ukraine, Air Force Secretary Deborah James said on August 24.
It would be the first deployment of the F-22 to Europe outside air shows.
The Air Force has already been using radar-evading F-22s to carry out some attacks against Islamic State sites, the first real combat air strikes by the jets.
"Russia's military activity in the Ukraine continues to be of great concern to us and to our European allies," James told a news conference at the Pentagon. "For the Air Force, an F-22 deployment is certainly on the strong side of the coin."
Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh James said the F-22's inaugural deployment in Europe would allow U.S. forces to train with NATO partners across Europe, testing the ability of the jets to communicate and fight together with the Eurofighter and other advanced warplanes.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
This ends our live blogging for August 24. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.