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Crimea prosecutor: Ukrainian battalion fighter detained in Crimea repents insincerely

A member of Ukraine's Azov volunteer battalion was detained in Crimea on accusations of involvement in setting a mosque in the city of Simferopol on fire and attempt to carry out a terrorist act

Azov battalion volunteers in Kiev (archive) EPA/TASS/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

Azov battalion volunteers in Kiev (archive)

© EPA/TASS/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

SIMFEROPOL, May 6. /TASS/. A participant of the nationalist Azov battalion, a paramilitary group making part of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry’s National Guard, who was detained in Crimea on May 1, has repented but not sincerely, Crimean Prosecutor Natalya Poklonskaya said Wednesday.

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Member of of Ukraine's Azov volunteer battalion detained in Crimea — prosecutor

"He is zealous only when he is in his atmosphere. With us he is a very nice, sensitive person who is trying to repent. Of course, insincerely. Behind the tinsel of upside-down swastika and ‘kill’ slogans, these are deeply cowardly people," Poklonskaya told journalists.

Poklonskaya said May 1 that a participant of the Azov battalion had been detained in Crimea. She said the young man is suspected of involvement in setting a mosque in the city of Simferopol on fire and attempt to carry out a terrorist act near the republic’s prosecutor’s office.

Poklonskaya did not mention the name of the detainee on Wednesday, citing secrecy of investigation. She stressed that investigators have documents proving that he was a member of the Azov battalion.

She said the detainee could face life in prison for preparation of the terrorist attack if found guilty.

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Crimea’s prosecutor warns Ukrainian radicals against asking for trouble

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Ukraine crisis Crimea and Sevastopol Eastern Ukraine

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