Russian Professor Who Murdered 39-Year-Younger Female Student Sentenced to 12 Years and 6 Months in Prison

Oleg Sokolov (63), a professor at Saint Petersburg University, was arrested by local Russian police on charges of murdering his partner. [Image source = EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] A renowned Russian historian and authority on Napoleon research has been sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison for dismembering and disposing of the body of his female disciple who was 39 years his junior.

On the 25th, major foreign media reported that Oleg Sokolov (64), a French history expert at Saint Petersburg University, was sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison for dismembering his female disciple, who was 39 years younger and had been living with him for over three years.

Last November, Sokolov was rescued after falling into the Moika River in Saint Petersburg while heavily intoxicated. At the time, he was carrying a backpack containing the severed arm of Anastasia Yesichenko (then 24 years old).

Police investigations revealed that his backpack contained not only Yesichenko’s severed arms but also a tranquilizer gun. The police searched the riverbed and found other parts of her body.

He reportedly confessed, "I got angry when Yesichenko, who was living with me, insulted my children from a previous marriage, so I shot her, dismembered the body, and tried to dispose of it in the Moika River but fell in." Since Yesichenko’s arms did not sink, he entered the cold river and then drowned.

He further admitted that after pulling the shotgun trigger four times, he dismembered the body with a saw and kitchen knife and disposed of it. Police confirmed through CCTV footage that he was seen carrying two bags heading toward the river that morning, and they found Yesichenko’s head in his apartment.

Postdoctoral researcher Anastasia Eshchenko at Saint Petersburg State University, brutally murdered by former professor Oleg Sokolov.
[Image source = AFP archive photo]

He is an expert on the Napoleonic Wars and a historian famous for reenacting Napoleon’s battle scenes. He was awarded the Legion of Honour from France and was known to have dressed as Napoleon himself, participating in battle reenactments multiple times.

He lived with Yesichenko, who was pursuing postdoctoral studies, and they enjoyed 'cosplaying' Napoleon and the era together. He called himself the emperor and her Josephine, the emperor’s consort, and they often performed role-playing scenes together. Sokolov reportedly called her "Josephine" and instructed her to address him as "Your Majesty."

In fact, Sokolov authored dozens of historical research papers, some of which listed Yesichenko as a co-author, indicating their close relationship.

While admitting to the murder, Sokolov claimed he did not plan the killing and that Yesichenko was not in her right mind after insulting his children, asking for leniency as he had already suffered much pain. He also said he intended to kill himself dressed as Napoleon after killing Yesichenko.

Russian women’s rights activists pointed out that this case "clearly shows Russia’s indifference to domestic violence." In fact, students at Saint Petersburg University had repeatedly complained that "Sokolov frequently sexually harassed female disciples," but the university had ignored these complaints.

Yesichenko’s bereaved family stated, "Even if Sokolov is sentenced to prison, it will not bring her back, but we accept the court’s ruling."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.