In a St. Petersburg courtroom, Dmitry Kasintsev faced the judge with a request that the verdict exclude any prison term. The appeal for leniency came as part of the ongoing proceedings surrounding the case, which has drawn substantial attention from local observers and the press. Kasintsev’s defense emphasized a sense of remorse for his actions, signaling a desire to reconcile with the consequences of the events in question.
The case began to take shape at the military court in St. Petersburg, where Kasintsev was arraigned alongside Daria Trepova. He is charged not with the primary offense but with concealment connected to the aftermath of the cafe explosion, specifically about where Trepova was hidden in the hours following the incident. The focus of the investigation has included establishing Trepova’s movements and any assistive roles connected to the alleged acts in the cafe setting.
During the proceedings, the prosecution representing Trepova moved to secure a sentence of 28 years. Trepova, at the center of the allegations, is accused of participating in or facilitating the attack on a military commander in St. Petersburg. The case has also implicated a broader network, including a connection with a Ukrainian journalist, who is reported to have known Trepova since mid-2022. The journalist is said to have offered assistance with relocation plans, which the authorities are examining in relation to Trepova’s alleged role in the events in question.
According to Trepova, the journalist assigned her daily tasks and maintained regular contact over an extended period. The defendant claims that the journalist instructed her to obtain unregistered SIM cards and provided funds for this purpose. She also described an introduction to another individual using a pseudonym, and she asserted that this person delivered a package that included an object resembling a bust of Vladlen Tatarsky, within which an explosive device was concealed. The statements present a narrative in which Trepova’s movements and interactions are integral to understanding the sequence of actions surrounding the cafe incident.
Earlier in the investigation, authorities opened a criminal case related to support for Daria Trepova, with prosecutors examining the extent of any assistance or involvement that could influence the outcome of the case. The proceedings continue to scrutinize the roles of all individuals tied to the incident, including those whose actions are said to bridge the events at the cafe with wider geopolitical considerations. The courtroom has become a focal point where legal arguments are weighed, the evidence is evaluated, and questions about responsibility and intent are addressed as part of a broader effort to determine accountability in a high-profile case.