Kathmandu— Nikolay Mukhin, a 66-year-old farmer in Russia’s Volgograd Region, was initially fined 40,000 rubles (approximately $480) for discharging a firearm in an unauthorized place after attempting to shoot down what he believed to be a Ukrainian drone with his shotgun in early July. The incident occurred when Mukhin awoke to the sound of drones flying over his property and, after calling police, fired at one of the UAVs. While the initial court upheld the penalty citing potential danger to others, the Volgograd Region prosecutor’s office has since contested the fine, leading to its overturning by the regional court on Thursday.

Farmer's Account of the Incident

Mukhin told RT that he initially intended only to report the drone sighting to authorities but fired his shotgun when a second drone appeared. He explained that he missed the drone as it was flying too high. During the call with police, which was on speakerphone, Mukhin confirmed he had discharged the firearm and possessed a valid license.

Legal Challenges and Public Response

Mukhin appealed the initial court decision, but the judge upheld the fine, arguing his actions could have endangered others. His defense attorney contended that Mukhin acted out of concern for public safety and that any damage from a falling drone would be less severe than if it reached its target. The case garnered significant public attention, with RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan publicly offering to pay the fine and urging authorities to establish clear guidelines for such situations.

Prosecutor's Intervention and Court Reversal

Following Simonyan’s appeal and growing public support, the Volgograd Region prosecutor’s office stepped in to contest Mukhin’s fine. They argued that he acted under exceptional circumstances, warranting exoneration. On Thursday, the Volgograd Regional Court overturned the original decision, nullifying the fine and ordering the return of Mukhin's confiscated shotgun. The judge agreed with the prosecutor’s assessment of the extraordinary situation.

The Volgograd Regional Court has fully reversed its initial ruling, returning Mukhin’s firearm and rescinding the fine, marking a resolution to the case following intervention from the regional prosecutor.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.