Crimean Political Consultant Faces Charges for Justifying Aggression

In 2022-2023, the Crimean resident, positioning himself as a "political consultant," talked about "the defense of the republics" and "the voluntary decision of the Crimeans to become part of the Russian Federation."

According to the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, in 2014-2020, the suspect cooperated with the occupation authorities, holding the position of "Deputy Chairman of the Commission on Economic Development of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Crimea."

In addition, in 2022-2023, the suspect, positioning himself as a "political consultant," gave a number of interviews to pro-Russian media and took part in television programs of the propaganda TV channel Millet aimed at spreading anti-Ukrainian narratives in the Crimean information space and legitimizing the "Russian status" of the peninsula. In particular, the "political analyst" justified the war against Ukraine by "protecting the Donbas republics", claimed that "Crimeans voluntarily decided to become part of the Russian Federation", and accused the Ukrainian authorities of pursuing a "Russophobic policy".

The forensic linguistic examination confirmed that the suspect's statements justified Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine and recognized the occupation of its territories as legitimate. Therefore, under the procedural guidance of the autonomous prosecutor's office, the pro-Russian political scientist from Crimea was served a notice of suspicion. His actions are qualified as justification, recognition of the legitimacy, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as well as glorification of the persons who carry out it using the media. The sanction of the article provides for up to 8 years in prison.

Earlier, the autonomy's prosecutor's office sent to court an indictment against a former occupation deputy of the "Bakhchisaray City Council of the Republic of Crimea" - "Advisor to the Head of the Republic of Crimea". He is accused of justifying Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine through the media. For his actions, he faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

An indictment against a resident of Kherson who distributed the occupation newspapersNaddnepryanska Pravda and Komsomolska Pravda among employees of a municipal enterprise was also submitted to the court. The texts contained in the publications justified the aggression of the Russian Federation, called the military invaders "liberators" and presented the seizure of Ukrainian territories as "liberation." The actions of the Ukrainian defenders were portrayed as terrorist. Also, two residents of Chornobaivka were served with suspicion in absentia for spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda.

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