The anti-Ukrainian war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was killed last April. It was in connection with one of his lectures in Saint Petersburg that he received a “bust” representing himself.
But a bomb had been placed inside the bust and Daria Trepova is now sentenced to 27 years in prison for terrorist crimes. The sentence is one of the harshest against a woman in the history of Russia, writes BBC.
“Feeling pain and shame”
But Trepova denies the allegations. She believes that she acted in the belief that the bust contained listening devices and trackers.
– I feel great pain and shame that my gullibility and naivety led to such disastrous consequences. I didn’t want to hurt anyone, she has previously said according to Reuters.
“I feel particular pain and shame that a terrorist act was carried out by my own hands”.
The bust was reportedly sent to her in March and she then expressed concern that it might contain something else. Trepova was on Ukraine’s side in the war and describes it as going there for journalistic purposes. According to her, she was instructed by a Ukrainian man, with whom she was connected by a Ukrainian journalist.
Tatarsky was praised by Putin
Russia has accused Ukraine of being behind the murder, which has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, according to the BBC.
The murdered artist was a well-known profile and his blog had over half a million followers. He had a criminal past and, despite being born in the Ukrainian city of Makijivka, was one of those who supported Vladimir Putin in the innovation war in Ukraine.
Vladlen Tatarsky was awarded the “Order of Courage” posthumously by the Russian President. An award for those who devotedly and dedicatedly fought for Russia.