You're reading: Media reports inform Russian serviceman Alexandrov receives indictment

Officer of the Main Investigative Department of the General Command of the Russian Armed Forces Alexander Alexandrov detained in Luhansk region has received the indictment, his lawyer Kostiantyn Kravchuk told TSN television service.

He said that a prosecutor handed the document to Alexandrov. The lawyer said that the court hearing will be held soon, maybe by the end of September.

He said that his client want to use the right to have a trial by jury. Alexandrov’s defense has drawn up the petition.

Another officer of Main Investigative Department of the General Command of the Russian Armed Forces Yevgeny Yerofeyev has not yet received the indictment.

The Alexandrov’s hired a lawyer Yuriy Hrabovsky. Alexandrov asked to think for 24 hours to decide if he rejects defending lawyer Kravchuk provided by the state, who run the case since the beginning, or agrees to the services of the private lawyer.

Russian servicemen Alexandrov and Yerofeyev were detained by the Ukrainian military on May 16, 2015, in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in the area of the town of Schastia, Luhansk region. One of them was wounded in the hand, the other one in the leg.

The court in Kyiv ruled to arrest the two Russians.

On July 28, adviser of the Ukrainian Security Council head Yuriy Tandit said that the trial against Alexandrov and Yerofeyev would begin in September and should be held in Ukraine.

Alexandrov and Yerofeyev face criminal charges, including participating in and waging an aggressive war against Ukraine.

In early August, Chief Military Prosecutor Anatoliy Matios said that Yerofeyev and Alexandrov will each receive a notice of suspicion of preparing and stirring an armed conflict (war) in Ukraine.

“[They have been sent notices of suspicion] as a result of committing the criminal plan of a hybrid war, the common bound goal of the actions of the Russian Armed Forces last year and the actions of Russian Armed Forces’ representatives Alexandrov and Yerofeyev. There’s one goal here. The accusations against them will be brought to court, and they will be also incriminated and receive their notice of suspicion of participation in stirring aggressive war and military conflict under Article 437 [of the Criminal Code of Ukraine],” he said.

Matios said that the officers will not be exchanged for other prisoners.