The SBU served a suspicion notice of high treason to a former people’s deputy from the Party of Regions, who headed a district in Kherson region before the Revolution of Dignity. Having escaped to temporary occupied Crimea, the offender provides assistance to the occupation regime.

Allegedly, the perpetrator moved to the peninsula after the annexation of Crimea by Russia. A Crimean Tatar by origin, he defected to occupiers and is actively involved in Pro-Russian propaganda. He initiated prosecution against those who did not share his ideas.

The offender created an NGO in order “to unite the Crimean Tatar people”.

The SBU established the following objectives of the organization:

• Agitation, in particular among ethnic Tatars, to recognize the legitimacy of the Crimean occupation by Russia.
• Agitation for the recognition of the occupying authorities of Russia.
• Encouraging the population of Crimea to participate in activity of the occupying authorities of Russia
• Campaigning for participation in the elections to the representative bodies of the occupying power in Crimea and in the elections of the President of Russia.

The investigative actions are ongoing.

To note:

According to Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, high treason shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of seven to twelve years.