Family business: a couple from Kherson region helped Russians to hold a pseudo-referendum

A 46-year-old man and his 33-year-old wife from Kherson voluntarily agreed to take an active part in a pseudo-referendum organized by the invaders on the accession of Kherson region to Russia during the occupation of the city.

According to Alyona Kmet, Deputy Head of the Kherson District Police Department, the police found out that in September 2022, the woman was appointed by the occupation authorities as a "representative of PEC #301" - a member of the "commission" that operated in the Dniprovsky district of Kherson. Her husband became the deputy head of the same commission.

"The defendants took an active part in organizing and conducting an illegal referendum on the territory of Antonivka ," the statement said.

The man directly managed the "voting" process and gave instructions to other members of the occupation commission. His wife issued ballots, checked voters against the available lists, and agitated citizens to vote for the secession of Kherson region from Ukraine and joining Russia.

Currently, the defendants have been served in absentia with a notice of suspicion of collaboration in agreement with the district prosecutor's office. They face 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.

Earlier, the Prymorskyi District Court of Odesa fully acquitted Aliona Talko, a resident of Shyroka Balka village of the Stanislavska community in Kherson district, who was accused of collaboration for her participation in the pseudo-referendum. The court found that the woman had acted under duress by the occupiers and released her from custody.

Another resident of the Kherson region, who was found guilty by the court of first instance of helping the Russians to hold an illegal referendum, did not plead guilty in court and tried to appeal the verdict in the appellate instance. However, in this case, the appellate court upheld the verdict and dismissed the appeal.

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