The SBU established the whereabouts and detained one of the organizers of the 2014 illegal referendum in Luhansk region. The offender spent seven years on the run in Russia.

SBU officers detained him during a special operation in the village of Novopskov, Luhansk region.

According to the investigation, the offender headed a so-called election commission to hold a pseudo-referendum on LNR independence in Novopskov district.

It was established that he took an active part in the organization of the fake activity, controlled the counting of votes and sending of completed "ballots" to temporarily uncontrolled Luhansk.

In order to avoid criminal liability for crimes against national security of Ukraine, the offender fled to Russia.

SBU investigators served him a suspicion notice in absentia for encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine and declared him wanted.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the illegal activity and prosecute all involved individuals.

The operation was conducted by officers of the SBU Main Office in Donetsk and Luhansk regions under the supervision of the Luhansk Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The SBU continues prosecuting organizers of the 2014 illegal referendum in eastern Ukraine. More than 160 perpetrators were sentenced. Over 60 case files were sent to the court.