MOSCOW, July 3 During the debate, the state prosecution asked for 18 years in prison three sons of Lipetsk priest Igor Ashcheulov, who tried to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reports a correspondent from the 2nd Western District Military Court.
“To find the Ascheulovs guilty… finally sentence them to 18 years in prison, three of which in prison, 15 in a maximum security colony,” said the prosecutor, who also considered it necessary to restrict the brothers’ freedom for 2 years after their release from the colony. 
< br />The prosecutor asked, as mitigating circumstances, to take into account the active cooperation of the accused in the investigation, as well as certificates about the health of their family members. The lawyers also asked the court to pay attention to these circumstances.
The Ascheulovs refused to participate in the debate between the parties, but expressed a desire to make the last word.
Alexei, Ioann and Timofey Ascheulovs are charged with attempted murder treason, illegally crossing the border of the Russian Federation and participation in the activities of a terrorist organization.
At the first meeting, the Ashcheulovs did not dispute that they intended to cross the border and participate in hostilities on the side of Ukraine, but stated that they did not consider this an admission of guilt. They are participating in the trial via video link from the Kursk Garrison Military Court. 
< br />According to the indictment announced at the hearing, the brothers intended to join the Legion of Freedom of Russia, recognized as terrorist, by contacting its representatives via Telegram, and then made a “joint decision to participate in military operations to confront Russia.”
To do this, the defendants went to the Kursk region to the border; a tool for dismantling the fence was later found in the backpack of one of them. However, according to the state prosecution, the Ashcheulovs did not carry out their criminal intent to the end, since they were noticed by border guards 1.5 kilometers from the border. First, they received 10 days of arrest each, then a criminal case was opened. 
The Ashcheulovs refused to testify in court, taking advantage of the article of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which gives the right to refuse to testify. After this, the state prosecutor read out the brothers’ testimony from the case materials, from which it follows that the defendants actively monitored news about the progress of the SVO and did not even tell close relatives about their decision to go to fight in Ukraine against Russia.
The large Ascheulov family became known in 2014, when guardianship authorities removed the children due to the lack of living conditions. Later, the children were returned to their parents and provided with living quarters while the house was being repaired. The court declared the actions of local guardianship and trusteeship authorities illegal and also rejected the claim for restriction of parental rights.
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