Russian Teen Sentenced To Six Years For Throwing Molotov Cocktails At Recruitment Centers

Yegor Balazeikin

Yegor Balazeikin

A Russian court on November 22 sentenced a 17-year-old to six years in prison for attempting to set fire to two military recruitment offices in protest at Moscow's war in Ukraine. Yegor Balazeikin was arrested in February and charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at recruitment centers in Kirovsk and St. Petersburg. Balazeikin said his actions were strongly influenced by the death of his uncle, who was killed after volunteering to fight in Ukraine. The prosecutor said Balazeikin could not “hide behind” his uncle’s death, but said the defendant's age, health, and his confession were considered in determining the sentence. To read the original story on RFE/RL’s North.Realities, click here.