Journalists found a note in the case file on the Southern District Military Court's website stating that proceedings had been terminated because the defendant had died. The defendant's name is withheld in the court database.
Mediazona reported that the deceased man was Ruslan Romanovich Romanov, a Ukrainian service member. The outlet was unable to establish which unit he served in, or when and under what circumstances he was taken prisoner.
Romanov was tried on three charges: participation in a terrorist community, participation in an organization designated as terrorist, and training for terrorist purposes. Prosecutors typically build their cases against POWs from the Azov and Aidar units on the same charges.
Such cases are heard by the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. The note about the defendant's death appeared in the court database on October 15. The previous hearing was held on September 22, but it is not known whether the defendant took part.
The case reached the court in late August. Details of the charges have not been disclosed.