The defendants in the murder of journalist Bentley in the DPR received from 1.5 to 12 years.

The Donetsk garrison military court announced the verdict in a high-profile criminal case related to abuse of office and the death of citizen Bentley. This was reported on December 8 in the Telegram channel of the Southern District Military Court.

The court found that on April 8, 2024, his superiors — Vitaly Vansyatsky, Andrey Iordanov and Vladislav Agaltsev — illegally detained Bentley, suspecting him of working for subversive groups. The victim was taken to the battalion's frontline command post, where he was tortured and beaten in order to extract confessions. Bentley died from his injuries.

After his death, Vansyatsky and Agaltsev tried to conceal the crime by blowing up the car with the body. The next day, Iordanov and Vladimir Bazhin burned the remains of the deceased.

In addition, the investigation found that on May 28, 2024, Iordanov escaped from custody during an investigative experiment, taking advantage of a hitch caused by the appearance of a drone. He was detained in Donetsk on June 1, 2024.

According to the court verdict, Vansyatsky and Iordanov were sentenced to 12 years in prison in a high—security colony, Agaltsev — 11 years, Bazhin - 1 year and 6 months in a penal colony.

"Military personnel tell the truth"

In Simferopol, they said goodbye to Alexander Fedorchak, as colleagues and relatives remembered the Izvestia journalist.

Earlier, on November 28, 2024, the criminal case of the murder of military commander Bentley was sent to court. Later, on December 5, the court postponed the start of the criminal investigation into the murder of US journalist Russell Bentley.

In February, Izvestia managed to talk to Bentley. He said that he had obtained Russian citizenship two years ago and married a woman from the Petrovsky district of Donetsk.

The news is being updated