The SBU investigators, under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol city, have completed the pre-trial investigation against two leaders of the NGO "Ukrainian Choice". They are charged with organizing and holding the illegal referendum in the temporarily occupied territory of the AR of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The suspects are Ivan Komelov and Oleksandr Syniavskyi, the leaders of the initiative groups of the NGO "Ukrainian Choice", who operated in Sevastopol city.

The perpetrators were among the members of the IAF "Self-Defense of Sevastopol". One of the suspects headed the territorial unit of the said IAF, the other was the head of a separate unit of the "Self-Defense" - "Slavic Shield".

These citizens of Ukraine carried out illegal orders of the "leaders" of the said formation, as well as took an active part in organizing and holding the illegal "referendum" on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014.

It is established that for the specified criminal activity representatives of the occupying state awarded suspects with departmental medals "For return of the Crimea".

In addition, the suspects were awarded "For the Return of Crimea" medals by representatives of the occupying state.

The suspects are charged with high treason, trespass against territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, and creation of unlawful paramilitary or armed formations; the indictments are sent to court. 

The perpetrators face up to 15 years in prison.