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Military court in Rostov-on-Don to hear first two criminal cases of Azov fighters

"The first case concerns a group of 24 members of the Azov nationalist battalion, while the second case involves nine people - members of the SS Bears Nazi sabotage and assault group," the source said

TASS, May 21. Two criminal cases involving a total of 33 people, including members of the Azov nationalist battalion (outlawed in Russia and recognized as a terrorist organization) and the SS Bears group, have been filed with the southern district military court, a source told TASS on Sunday.

"The first case concerns a group of 24 members of the Azov nationalist battalion, while the second case involves nine people - members of the SS Bears Nazi sabotage and assault group," the source said.

All 33 members of the nationalist battalion were charged under the articles of the Criminal Code of the Donetsk People's Republic, according to the published materials of the case.

Thus, the commander and members of the SS Bears group were previously charged with actions aimed at the violent seizure of power in the DPR, participation in an illegal armed formation and training for the commission of the abovementioned crimes. According to the case materials, each of them is now charged with article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code (forcible seizure of power), part 2 of article 208 (participation in an illegal armed formation) and article 205.3 (training for the purpose of terrorist activities).

The 24 members of the Azov nationalist battalion face similar charges.

According to the DPR Prosecutor's Office, more than 100 people were victims of these individuals. All the defendants cooperated with the investigation and gave detailed testimony.

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