Deputy Mayor Oleksandr Fedorov Sentenced to 10 Years for Collaboration in Kherson Region

A resident of the village of Shevchenko in Skadovsk city community in Kherson region, deputy local mayor Oleksandr Fedorov, 54, held a pseudo-referendum, looted community property, threatened fellow villagers, moved occupants into their homes, and repainted Ukrainian symbols with Russian ones.

According to the Center for Investigative Journalism, the Velyko Oleksandrivskyi District Court of Kherson Region found him guilty of collaboration in absentia for the crimes.

According to witnesses, the man went around the houses of his fellow villagers, accompanied by armed Russian soldiers, and forced them to vote for "joining" Russia. When people refused to take part in the so-called vote, the local organizers of the pseudo-referendum were outraged. Most residents went into hiding, avoiding going to the polls. And after the "referendum", some of them were forced to leave the occupation due to the danger and moral pressure.

"During the 'referendum' period, an atmosphere of fear and disenfranchisement prevailed in the village," the media quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

According to them, in 2022, Oleksandr Fedorov demanded the keys to the local school from them and threatened to send the Russian military to them if they refused. They had to hand over the keys. Two days later, the school was looted.

Another witness described how Oleksandr Fedorov, together with other collaborators, gathered villagers near the school and forced them to send their children to study according to the so-called Russian educational standards. Those who refused were threatened with the forcible removal of their children and "deprivation" of their parental rights.

It is also known that Fedorov tried to break into the building of a local kindergarten. He could not find the keys to the institution, so he and other collaborators broke down the door. In addition, the defendant and his son repainted Ukrainian symbols with Russian ones, in particular, on the ceiling at the entrance to the village.

The court found Fedorov guilty of collaboration for his crimes. He was sentenced in absentia to ten years in prison with confiscation of all property and deprivation of the right to hold public office for 15 years. At the same time, the CCR notes that the court's verdict has not yet entered into force.

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