Pyotr Parpulov, Sochi resident, convicted of treason, left at large

A court in Tambov has ruled in favour of Pyotr Parpulov, a Sochi resident, sentenced to 12 years in prison within a treason case, admitting that he could not be in jail with such diseases.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in January 2016, Pyotr Parpulov was sentenced to 12 years in a high security colony on charges of treason, but on May 26, 2022, the court decided to release him ahead of time due to a serious illness. The prosecutor's office filed a cassation appeal, demanding a review of the case with a replacement of the judge. On January 17, 2023, the Second Court of Cassation in Moscow overturned the decision to release Parpulov and sent the case back for a new trial.

"The prosecutor insisted on my client's return to the colony due to the fact that he had undergone a surgery; and allegedly the grounds for staying at large had disappeared. However, the court came to the conclusion that my client's disease is lifelong; he needs constant treatment and falls into the category of diseases at which serving a sentence is unacceptable," said Elena Vislobokova, a Parpulov's advocate.

According to her story, the prosecutor has the right to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal, but hopes that this will not happen.

Yulia, Parpulov's daughter, has noted that the court's decision was a joyful event, but she and her father have no longer any strength to rejoice, because they had experienced a lot. "At present, I just want to recover after all the trials we have endured," she said, noting that her father still has a long road of rehabilitation and struggle for life and health ahead.