Russian Court Spares Man Jail Time for Wife’s Murder Citing War Service In a recent ruling, a Russian court has decided not to send a soldier to prison despite him being responsible for his wife’s death.
The court took into consideration the fact that the man had been involved in the war against Ukraine, which was deemed a “mitigating circumstance” in this murder case.
This particular case has garnered attention because Russian “war veterans” have often received lighter sentences, but it is the first time the war service has been used as a mitigating factor in a murder trial.
The convicted soldier, Private Eduard Bitarov, was found guilty of murdering his wife in the heat of passion.
According to Russian law, this offense could lead to a maximum of three years in prison.
However, the court decided to reduce the punishment to a restriction on military service along with a 10% deduction from his state allowance.
The court acknowledged the defendant’s participation in the war against Ukraine and his status as a “combat veteran” as significant factors in their decision.
Besides his war service, the court considered several other mitigating circumstances, including his admission of guilt, being a parent, having no previous criminal record, demonstrating good character, and partially compensating for the harm caused to the victims.
Local media had previously reported on the brutal nature of the crime, stating that Bitarov had stabbed his ex-wife a shocking 16 times.
The victim’s relatives had also raised concerns about evidence suggesting torture and extreme brutality in the murder.
Throughout the trial, Bitarov had changed his testimonies multiple times. Initially, he claimed self-defense, but later, he shifted the blame onto the woman’s behavior as the cause for his actions.
