Public attention around high-profile court cases often fades quickly, but this one refused to disappear quietly.
A former regional government employee, once unknown outside official circles, became the center of intense debate after her name trended across Russian media and social platforms.
Now, the legal process surrounding Victoria Shinkaruk has officially reached its end.
Appeals Court Confirms Guilty Verdict
The Military Court of Appeal sitting in Vlasikha, a town in the Moscow Region, has upheld the conviction of Victoria Shinkaruk, a former employee of the Belgorod regional administration.
The judges rejected every appeal submitted by Shinkaruk and her legal team, allowing the earlier ruling to stand without modification.
With this decision, the sentence has fully entered into legal force.
Following the ruling, Shinkaruk’s name remains listed in Russia’s official register of extremists and terrorists, maintained by Rosfinmonitoring.
Original Sentence Remains Unchanged
The initial judgment was delivered in December 2024 by the 2nd Western District Military Court.
Prosecutors had pushed for a lengthy prison term, and the court granted their request in full.
Shinkaruk was sentenced to 21 years behind bars and ordered to pay a fine of 1.5 million rubles.
Despite public curiosity and speculation, the appeals court made it clear that there were no legal grounds to reconsider the punishment.
Media Nickname Sparks Attention but Not Legal Influence
Interest in the case surged after the Telegram channel Baza controversially described Shinkaruk as Russia’s “most beautiful terrorist.”
The phrase quickly spread online, drawing criticism and fascination in equal measure.
However, the courts stressed that media labels and public commentary played no role in the judicial process, which focused strictly on the evidence and charges presented.
Seven Serious Charges Linked to Terrorism
Shinkaruk was found guilty under seven different articles of the Russian Criminal Code.
These included attempted terrorist activity, participation in a terrorist organization, and illegal handling and transfer of explosive materials.
Throughout the trial, she maintained her innocence.
Shinkaruk insisted she had no intention of supporting terrorism and claimed she was acting under the influence of her former husband, without understanding the true purpose of her actions.
Defense Claims She Was Unaware of Terror Links
Her lawyer, Artem Rydvanov, argued that Shinkaruk did not know who the funds she handled were meant for or how they would be used.
According to the defense, her former husband—believed by investigators to be in Ukraine—sent 107,000 rubles to her account.
She was allegedly told to pass 100,000 rubles to another individual and keep the remaining amount for herself, without being informed of any terrorist connection.
Investigators Describe a Coordinated Network
Prosecutors presented a very different picture.
Investigators believe Shinkaruk acted as part of an organized network with handlers operating from Ukraine.
Authorities also named a second suspect in the case, locksmith Alexander Kholodkov, who has likewise been added to the extremist and terrorist registry.
According to investigators, the pair helped move explosive substances into hidden storage locations and transferred around 500,000 rubles to support preparations for a planned terrorist attack on Russian soil.
Co-Defendant Handed the Same Punishment
Kholodkov received an identical sentence: 21 years in prison and a fine of 1.5 million rubles.
Under the ruling, he will spend the first five years in a standard prison facility before being transferred to a high-security penal colony for the remainder of his term.
Like Shinkaruk, he refused to admit guilt throughout the proceedings.
A Legal Chapter Closes on a High-Profile Case
With the appeals exhausted and the verdict confirmed, the case is now considered legally closed.
It stands as one of the most closely watched terrorism-related trials in recent years, particularly because it involved a former regional official whose personal story became as debated as the charges themselves.
For now, the courts have delivered their final word, leaving the broader public discussion to continue beyond the courtroom walls.
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