Deputies of the State Council of Crimea convicted of collaboration

Two deputies of the occupying "State Council of Crimea" representing a pro-Kremlin party were sentenced in absentia for collaboration.

According to the press service of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in July 2022, both men knowingly agreed to run in the so-called "additional elections" to the "State Council of Crimea" organized by the occupation administration on the peninsula. They were nominated as candidates from the Crimean regional branch of the United Russia party.

During July-September 2022, they campaigned in the occupied Dzhankoy and Krasnogvardeysky district. In September 2022, following the results of pseudo-elections, they were declared "elected deputies" in Dzhankoy and Krasnogvardeysky single-mandate districts, after which they became members of the occupation "State Council of Crimea of the II convocation".

In September 2024, both received new mandates - as "deputies of the III convocation" - and continue to exercise their powers to this day, actively supporting the occupation regime.

The court found them guilty of committing a criminal offense under Part 5 of Art. 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - collaboration, namely, holding a position in a government body created by the occupiers. One of the defendants was sentenced to 5 years in prison, the other - 8 years, with additional punishment. Both were also sentenced to additional penalties: deprivation of the right to hold positions in state and local government for 10 and 12 years, respectively, as well as confiscation of property.

A former Crimean minister and former deputy of the Simferopol City Council was also sentenced to 13 years in prison with confiscation of property for treason. He worked for the occupation authorities, promoted Russian propaganda and helped to adapt the peninsula's media space to Russian legislation.

Ірина Глухова