Former Belgorod official gets 21 years for terror plot
The Military Court of the Second Western District has sentenced former Belgorod official Victoria Shynkaruk to 21 years in prison and fined her 1.5 million rubles for planning a terrorist attack on railways and oil refineries, RIA Novosti reported. Locksmith Alexander Kholodkov received the same sentence.
Kholodkov will spend the first five years in prison, followed by 16 years in a penal colony, according to RIA Novosti. Meanwhile, Shynkaruk, referred to by the popular Russian Telegram channel "Baza" as "the most beautiful terrorist," will serve her entire sentence in prison. Both have been fined 1.5 million rubles each.
Shynkaruk and Kholodkov were found guilty of belonging to a terrorist group, illegal trading of explosives, smuggling goods and strategic resources, planning a terrorist attack, and preparing for the illegal production of explosives.
The verdict was supposed to be announced a week ago, but there was a technical issue when Shynkaruk and Kholodkov were brought to court. There was no light in the room where the defendants were searched, causing a delay in the announcement of the verdict.
Former official sentenced to 21 years in prison
According to investigators, Shynkaruk's former husband and Alexander Kholodkov's friend, Yevgeny Kisel, convinced the accused to accept approximately 500,000 rubles to plan a terrorist attack and plant explosives.
Currently, Kisel is in Ukraine, according to investigators. He is wanted by authorities. His former wife and friend communicated with him through popular messaging platforms. Shynkaruk and Kholodkov did not plead guilty.
