During the stabilization measures in the de-occupied territory of Luhansk region, the SSU detained one of the organizers of russia’s fake referendum.

According to the investigation, the collaborator is a 50-year-old resident of Stelmakhivka village. The woman worked at a local agricultural enterprise and, after russian troops occupied the district, decided to cooperate with the enemy for ideological reasons.

In return for her loyalty, invaders entrusted her with preparation and holding the pseudo-referendum in her village.

To ensure the ‘entry’ of the occupied territories into the russian federation, the woman:

• went around the village with a ballot box to collect ballots from her fellow villagers;
• called the locals to vote for ‘joining’ russia;
• as a member of an ‘election commission’ ensured the ‘vote counting’ in favour of the ‘statistics’ predetermined in the kremlin.

The collaborator is currently in custody. SSU investigators notified her of suspicion of crimes under two Articles of the CCU:

• 110.2 (intentional actions aimed at changing the borders of the territory and state border of Ukraine in violation of the procedure established by the Constitution, committed upon prior conspiracy by a group of persons);
• 111-1.5 (participation in organization and holding of an illegal referendum in a temporarily occupied territory).

The crimes are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The SSU Office in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the National Police exposed and detained the suspect under the procedural supervision of Luhansk Region Prosecutor’s Office.