St. Petersburg resident given 10 years in prison for arson at military enlistment office, says coerced by scammers

A court has sentenced 67-year-old St. Petersburg resident Zhamangul Kurbanova to 10 years in prison for setting fire to the door of a military enlistment office.

Kurbanova was found guilty of committing a terrorist act resulting in significant property damage, according to the St. Petersburg courts’ joint press service.

Investigators said that on August 1, 2023, Kurbanova set fire to the door, “after which she called the instigators from the scene and fled.” The damage to the enlistment office was estimated at nearly 92,000 rubles (about $1,000). Investigators believe the people with whom Kurbanova was in contact promised to pay her 50,000 rubles (about $550) for setting fire to the military office. The prosecution requested 12 years for the defendant.

“The woman admitted her guilt, repented of her actions, and compensated for the damage,” the courts’ press service wrote.

Kurbanova, in turn, asserts she was the victim of a scam, reported Mediazona. She said that unknown people contacted her and convinced her to take out loans. Then, they demanded she “set fire to a building where criminals are hiding” to repay her debt.

“I honestly admit what I did, but I’m not a terrorist!” Kurbanova told the court. “I didn’t want to harm or kill anyone; I wanted the scammers to be caught so that no more people would suffer.”