Russia slams ‘light sentencing’ of pro-Ukraine arsonists
Eight months of house arrest is too lenient for an attempted terror attack, according to the Russian embassy
A French court has sentenced two pro-Ukraine activists who threw makeshift bombs at the Russian consulate in Marseilles on Monday to eight months of house arrest, multiple media outlets have reported. The Russian embassy in France has slammed the punishment as far too lenient for an attempted terrorist attack.
The two French nationals, referred to as Vasile H., 48, and Georges S., 59, were charged with “unauthorized manufacture of an explosive or incendiary device,” as well as “attempted property damage by means dangerous to people,” Le Figaro wrote on Thursday. Both were sentenced to eight months of house arrest, to be served with mandatory ankle monitoring bracelets, the newspaper added.
The Russian embassy in France protested the pair’s soft punishment in a statement on Thursday.
“The very lenient sentence handed down is absolutely inconsistent with the gravity of the crime – essentially, an attempt to commit a terrorist act,” the consulate stressed, adding that it was sheer luck that no one was hurt.
The suspects, both employees of the French National Center for Scientific Research, had admitted their guilt in the arson attack, Reuters wrote on Thursday. Prosecutors had been seeking a year of monitoring for the pair, according to the outlet.
The terrorists who attacked the Consulate General of Russia in Marseille were sentenced to 8 months, they will serve them at home and wear electronic bracelets.
8 month at home for terrorism. This is Macron’s France. https://t.co/3MtgLGkJkO pic.twitter.com/EKthWBOZZ6— Mikhail Rogov