Two men described as 'useful idiots' have been sentenced to a combined nine years in prison for orchestrating arson attacks on properties linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, acting on orders from a shadowy Russian-speaking handler.
Details of the Sentencing
Roman Lavrynovych, a 22-year-old Ukrainian, and Stanislav Carpiuc, a 27-year-old Romanian, were found guilty of conspiring to commit arson. A third defendant, Ukrainian national Petro Pochynok, 35, was acquitted of the same charge. Lavrynovych also faced additional convictions for damaging two properties by fire, with reckless disregard for life, in May of the previous year.
Justice Garnham handed down a seven-year sentence to Lavrynovych and a two-year term to Carpiuc. The court heard that Lavrynovych set fire to a car and two houses linked to the Prime Minister in north London.
The Role of 'El Money'
Justice Garnham characterized Lavrynovych as an 'idiot' and a 'fool' manipulated by an individual known as 'El Money' or 'Hroshi' in Ukrainian, who directed the attacks. The identity of El Money remains unknown, but their account has been connected to a Russian online sabotage network.
Recruitment took place via the encrypted messaging app Telegram, where El Money offered Lavrynovych £3,000 in cryptocurrency to set fire to a car and two houses, ensuring the incident was captured on video, as detailed in the Old Bailey proceedings.
Execution of the Attacks
Instructions from the account included precise locations of the targets and guidance on mixing flammable liquids purchased from a hardware store. Carpiuc’s role involved encouraging Lavrynovych and assisting in converting the cryptocurrency, a nearly untraceable digital currency, into cash.
In his sentencing remarks, Justice Garnham told Lavrynovych: 'You agreed to carry out this mindless piece of arson for money. You were not a man of great principle and you were easily bought.'
