Driver from Murom Sentenced to 16 Years for Photos of Z and V Vehicles
Moscow, August 18, Vesti. The Second Western Military District Court sentenced Sergey Loktev, a driver-expeditor from Murom, to 16 years in prison for taking photos of Russian vehicles with 'Z' and 'V' symbols on behalf of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Ukraine) and for involvement in a terrorist organization.
Consensus
- Sergey Loktev, a 44-year-old truck driver from Murom and a former expeditor, was sentenced to 16 years of imprisonment by the 2nd Western Military District Court.
- The court found Loktev guilty of state treason and participation in a terrorist organization.
- Loktev photographed at least 41 vehicles with Z and V symbols supporting the special military operation (SVO) between June 2022 and May 2023.
- The photos were allegedly sent to Ukrainian intelligence services.
- Loktev was also found to have joined the banned organization 'Artpreparation' in April 2023 and received a virtual 'party ticket' via Telegram.
- Loktev admitted to some facts but claimed he sent the photos only for statistical analysis.
- The sentence includes 3 years in prison followed by a transfer to a strict-regime colony, a 300,000 ruble fine, one year of freedom restriction, and a two-year ban on managing websites and public groups.
- Loktev was arrested in April 2024.
- The final sentence of 16 years includes a prior conviction from the same year for possession of psychoactive mushrooms and extremist incitement, which added 3 years and 3 months to the total.
Points of divergence
- The court sentenced Loktev to 15 years in prison for state treason and terrorism, with the total sentence reaching 16 years after accounting for a prior conviction. — tg_radiosvoboda
- Loktev began supporting 'Artpreparation' from September 2021, according to the prosecution. — tg_radiosvoboda
- The court ordered the confiscation of Loktev's phone and the deletion of photos and SIM card. — vesti
- A separate suspect from Sevastopol admitted to cooperating with Ukrainian intelligence for 100–500 euros, citing a contact named 'Valdis'. — vesti
- The court session was held in Vladimir, not Moscow. — vm
- The verdict has not yet entered into legal force. — vm
Coverage (5 sources)
- Driver from Murmansk sentenced to 16 years for photos of cars with Z and V symbols — Коммерсантъ
- Court sentenced Murom driver to 16 years for photos of cars for VU — Вести
- The court sentenced the driver-expeditor from Murom to 16 years for treason — Вечерняя Москва
- 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced 44-year-old Murom driver-expeditor Sergey Loktev to 15 years in col... — Радио Свобода
- Driver from Murmansk given 15 years in prison for photos of cars with Z-symbol and 'party ticket' of 'Artillery Preparation' — Медиазона