cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/50630116

Under the public prosecution of the prosecutors of the Specialised Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the court found the so-called “director” of the “Askania-Nova” biosphere reserve guilty. The court convicted him of collaboration and violation of the laws and customs of war, committed in conspiracy by a group of individuals.

A total of seven reserve-protected animals were removed from Askania-Nova as a result of the illegal transfer. Following the Russian occupation of Askania-Nova, a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve was unlawfully re-registered under Russian law, and the legitimate Ukrainian administration was replaced. On 1 December 2023, the new administration illegally transferred the reserve’s animals, including rare and endangered animals (which remain Ukrainian property despite the illegal re-registration), to Russian-controlled zoos. Among the animals at issue were Chapman’s zebras, American bison, Przewalski’s horses, and one of David’s deer, the last of which died during the transfer.

The court found the accused Dmytro Mesheryakov guilty, who was the Russia-appointed head of Askania-Nova, and was responsible for organising the transfer of protected animals in violation of international law. He was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. He was also banned from holding positions in government bodies local self-government, and working in the field of public services for 15 years.

“This is a landmark development: for the first time, a court has clearly signalled that environmental war crimes will not go unpunished and accountability for environmental damage is inevitable” – mentioned Nataliia Pavlovych, Deputy Lead of the Environmental Mobile Justice Team.

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