The Kemerovo Rudnichny District Court handed down a seven-year term in a maximum security colony to Alexander Derzhalov, a former member of the private military company Wagner, for an attempted attack that could have cost a life. The ruling is supported by local court records indicating the defendant’s intent and actions during the incident.
Court materials describe a confrontation between Derzhalov and two neighbors with whom he had no prior contact. During the dispute, he produced a knife in a heated moment. He does not recall every moment of the incident and asserts that his aim was not to kill but to defend himself. Witnesses on the scene, however, testified to the aggressive nature of his intent and the danger posed by his actions. The case underscores how perceptions of self-defense can collide with the seriousness of threats made or carried out with weapons. [Citation: Newspapers.Ru]
The defendant has a history of military honors, including a medal awarded for Courage. Public records note multiple prior convictions, with the most recent one in 2021 for theft and burglary. This background is part of the context the court considered when determining the sentence. [Citation: Newspapers.Ru]
In a separate development, a Kazakh court recently sentenced a Wagner PMC veteran to nearly seven years in prison for participating in fighting in Ukraine. The individual claimed there was no war in Ukraine but a special military operation, a position supported by counsel representing the Wagner group. The court also ordered confiscation of the assets earned during the period of service, reflecting the broader legal framework surrounding mercenary activity in conflict zones. [Citation: Newspapers.Ru]
Earlier reports indicate that Wagner-affiliated fighters in Dagestan were subject to abduction and ransom demands, highlighting the risks and legal ambiguities associated with private military contractors in volatile regions. These cases collectively illustrate how international and domestic authorities respond to mercenary activity and violent offenses linked to private security outfits. [Citation: Newspapers.Ru]