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Russian sentenced to four years for trying to leave for Ukraine to fight on enemy's side

The convict will have to spend two years in prison and another two in a high-security penal colony

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. Moscow’s Lefortovsky District Court has sentenced a former member of the French Foreign Legion, Maxim Dmitriyenko, to four years behind bars for trying to go to Ukraine to fight against Russia, the court’s press service said.

"Maxim Dmitriyenko was found guilty under Articles 30.1 and 280.2 of the Russian Criminal Code (attempted participation in the activities of an armed unit in a foreign country, running counter to Russia’s interests) and was sentenced to four years behind bars and a year of restricted freedom," the court pointed out.

The convict will have to spend two years in prison and another two in a high-security penal colony.

According to the case files, Dmitriyenko used to serve in the French Foreign Legion. While in Paris, he contacted the Ukrainian Embassy, and expressed his desire to join Ukrainian armed groups but his request was denied because he is a Russian national. He later tried to enter Ukraine via Russia but was detained by Federal Security Service (FSB) officers. Dmitriyenko maintained contact with militants from the Azov Battalion (outlawed in Russia) who earlier served in the Foreign Legion.

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