A former police major from the Kherson region was sentenced for treason

A court has handed down a verdict to a former police major from Henichesk, Kherson Oblast, who headed the occupation police department in the Ivanivska community. He was convicted of treason.

This is stated in the verdict of the Kherson City Court.

The defendant in the case is a former police major. Prior to the occupation, he served as a beat officer in the prevention sector of the Henichesk District Police Department. In June 2022, he was dismissed from service as a disciplinary measure.

According to the court, on May 20, 2022, the man voluntarily agreed to cooperate with the occupying authorities. Initially, he assumed the position of the so-called “acting deputy chief of the department” of the occupation police in Henichesk.

On April 12, 2023, he became head of the occupying “Ivanovskoye Department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs” in the Ivanivska settlement community of the Henichesk District. The verdict states that he carried out repressive actions against the local population.

Among the evidence is an order issued by the occupiers on May 20, 2022, appointing him to the position based on his own application. There are also photo identification records: eight witnesses identified him as a member of the occupation police.

Three witnesses testified in court. One of them said she saw him in uniform, wearing an armband with the “Z” symbol, a holster with a weapon, and the Russian coat of arms’ eagle on his cap. Another witness saw him with a weapon standing next to the chief of the occupation police.

Yet another former colleague said that the man would come to the occupation district police station in civilian clothes but with a holster. According to him, the former police officer drove a car that had previously been used by the Henichesk District Police Department, but now without any Ukrainian symbols.

The prosecutor requested that the man be sentenced to life in prison and that his property be confiscated. The defense attorney denied that he had been the deputy chief of the occupation police department and argued that his actions should be considered collaboration under Part 7 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code.

However, the court ruled otherwise. He was found guilty of high treason under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The man was sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property. He was also stripped of his rank of“police major.” After serving his main sentence, he will be barred from holding positions in law enforcement agencies.

His 1/1 share of a 0.1-hectare land parcel and his 1/1 share of a 0.003-hectare land parcel will also be confiscated. The verdict has not yet become final.

Ірина Глухова