Elected as "deputies" in the occupied territory of Kherson region and received suspicion

Two residents of Kakhovka took part in the illegal elections held in September 2023 on the temporarily occupied left bank of the Kherson region and were elected as "deputies" from the political parties of the aggressor state. They have now been notified of suspicion in absentia.

According to Chermen Tuskaev, Deputy Head of the Investigation Department of the Kherson Police, operatives found out that in September last year, a 61-year-old native of Nova Kakhovka, while in occupied Kakhovka, voluntarily took part in pseudo-elections to the so-called "Council of Deputies of the Kakhovka Municipal District of the Kherson Region of the first convocation" as a "candidate for deputy" from the political party of the aggressor state"United Russia".

Another suspect of collaboration is a 60-year-old native of Henichesk. The operatives of the Strategic Investigations Department in Kherson region established that at the end of August last year, she voluntarily decided to participate in illegal elections and registered under the number "5" as a "candidate for deputy" to the "Kherson Regional Duma of the first convocation" from the local branch of the political party of the aggressor state "Liberal Democratic Party of Russia".

Law enforcement officers also found that, according to the results of the pseudo-voting and the decision of the Kakhovka Territorial Election Commission, both suspects were elected as "deputies". And on September 19, 2023, the first meeting of the pseudo-council took place, at which they were appointed as "members of standing committees": the first - "on industry, urban planning, infrastructure development and business support", and the second - "on budgetary issues, economy and investments" of the "council of deputies of the first convocation of the municipal formation - Kakhovka municipal district".

Police investigators charged both offenders with collaboration. At present, in agreement with the regional prosecutor's office, the women have been notified of suspicion in absentia. The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of five to ten years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of 10 to 15 years and with or without confiscation of property. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Олеся Ланцман