Court started hearing captive Russia's commandos case on merits

The Holosiivskyi district court of Kyiv started a trial on merits of the case against servicemen of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Aleksandrov.

This was stated by presiding judge Mykola Didyk, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainski Novyny.

The session is attended by three prosecutors and two plaintiffs.

The defendants are also present with their lawyers Yurii Hrabovskyi (Aleksandrov) and Oksana Sokolovska (Yerofeyev).

Prosecutors are reading the indictment, Hromadske reports. Alexey Gruby, Russia's consul, is there as well.

Watch more: "No one saw me shooting. I was passing by," - Russian commando Yerofeyev pleads not guilty. VIDEO

Before the session, Yerofeyev said he still could not get in touch with his relatives. When asked if he wished them to arrive, he said: "Already not."

When asked what the soldiers were doing in the Luhansk region when the crime took place, Yerofeyev repeated he "was passing by." No answer followed after being asked whether he and Aleksandrov were Russian serviceman at the time of the capture, though a moment after he advised addressing the lawyers for any comments.