Ex-officer of Kherson SIZO sentenced in Odesa

In Odesa, a court sentenced a former employee of the Kherson pre-trial detention center who voluntarily joined the Russian penitentiary system during the occupation. The man admitted that he worked for the occupiers for money and family support.

This was reported by Intent with reference to the verdict of the Khadzhybeyskyi District Court of Odesa.

According to the investigation, the accused began working for the Russian administration in June 2022. The man received a position in the Northern Correctional Colony No. 90.

The accused pleaded not guilty in court. He stated that before the war he had worked as a junior inspector in the Kherson SIZO, had the rank of sergeant and had taken the oath of allegiance to Ukraine. After the invasion began, the staff remained on duty for some time, and later the institution came under Russian control.

The defendant said that after the "downtime" was registered, he was left without payments and, due to financial difficulties, began working in the occupied Kherson Penal Colony No. 90. He admitted that he had voluntarily accepted the job, received a salary in rubles and had a Russian ID, but explained it by the need to support his family and the inability to leave the occupation.

According to him, his duties remained the same: maintaining order and controlling prisoners. He does not consider his actions to be high treason, although he admitted that he understood the possible consequences.

However, the court did not accept these arguments. Witnesses confirmed that the staff of the institution was offered a choice: to resign or to remain under the control of the Russian Federation. Most employees refused to cooperate, but the defendant voluntarily agreed to serve the occupiers.

One of the key pieces of evidence were documents and items seized during a search of his home. Investigators found a Russian service certificate, a uniform of the occupation penitentiary service, and fragments of ruble bills. Witnesses in court also stated that the man moved freely around the colony, wore a uniform with Russian chevrons and performed the functions of supervising prisoners according to Russian rules.

The court found the man guilty of high treason and sentenced him to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property. He was also deprived of his rank, banned from working in law enforcement for three years, and his share of the apartment was confiscated.

Another resident of Kherson was found guilty of collaboration and sentenced to 12 years in prison. According to the court's verdict, the man worked in Kherson as a public transport driver. In prison, the occupiers assigned him household chores: mowing grass and whitewashing curbs.

Анна Бальчінос