MOSCOW, July 28 (RAPSI) – A court in the Donetsk People’s Republic will start hearing the case of the Ukrainian neo-Nazi group SS Bears on August 1 in, the Donetsk News Agency reports Thursday.

The hearing is expected to be held behind closed doors.

Cases against the neo-Nazi group members and their commander Alexander Kravtsov were earlier consolidated and transferred to the DPR Supreme Court.

Kravtsov and eight other members of the group are charged with participation in an illegal foreign militia, committing actions aimed at forceful seizure of power in violation of the DPR Constitution and forceful change of constitutional order and undergoing training to commit the said crimes. 

If convicted, they could face death penalty.

Kravtsov earlier pled guilty to the charges.