Based on evidence collected by the Security Service, Sergei Yeliseyev, vice-governor of Kaliningrad region of the russian federation, has been sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

After the capture of Kherson, the kremlin sent him to the port city to head the local occupation ‘government’.

While in office, Yeliseyev acted as the region’s supervisor, coordinating contacts between local gauleiters and russia’s military-political leadership.

Under his management, preparations were underway in the then-captured city for the sham referendum in support of the region’s ‘annexation’ to russia.

To provide mass media support for the fake plebiscite, Yeliseyev created the Tavria TV and radio company, which became the kremlin’s local mouthpiece.

He also repeatedly appeared on moscow’s central media outlets, in particular rossiya-24 TV channel, and justified russia’s armed aggression and occupation of the southern regions of our state.

On the eve of Kherson’s liberation, the perpetrator fled to the left bank of Kherson region, and later to russia, where he returned to Kaliningrad region’s administration.

Based on the SSU’s investigation, the court found Yeliseyev guilty in absentia under two Articles of the CCU:

• 436-2.3 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants);
• 111-1.6 (organization and active participation in political events in cooperation with the aggressor state and its occupation administration, aimed at supporting the aggressor state and its occupation administration).

Since the convict is hiding in russia, efforts to bring him to justice are underway.

The investigation was carried out jointly with the SSU Office in Kherson region under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.