A well-known Russian photographer has been found guilty of murdering his model wife and sentenced to 10 years in prison by a court in Siberia, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday.
The Yekaterinburg District Court ruled that Dmitry Loshagin killed his wife Yulia Prokopyeva in August 2013, when her charred body was found in a local forest. Investigators believe Loshagin beat his wife to death following a quarrel, and then attempted to dispose of the body by setting it on fire, Interfax reported.
It is the second time that Loshagin, a respected photographer in Yekaterinburg, has faced trial in connection with Prokopyeva's murder. He earlier spent more than a year in custody before he was acquitted in December last year. In February a local court overturned the ruling and initiated a new trial.
Loshagin, who was taken into custody following the court's decision on Wednesday, intends to appeal the 10-year prison term, Interfax reported.
Prosecutor Sergei Zhorin dismissed Loshagin's intent to appeal as a bid to evade conviction. “Loshagin has done much to avoid a guilty sentence. He has worked with the media, and hidden traces of his crime … [but] the court gave the correct assessment and found Loshagin guilty,” he was cited as saying by Interfax.
The photographer made headlines in April when he said he was asked to photograph a shoot of the winner of the Miss Russia beauty pageant — despite the looming murder trial. Loshagin said he turned down the offer, according to state news agency TASS.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
