Former judge from Kherson region sentenced to life in prison

A former judge from Kherson region was found guilty of high treason and collaboration. She was sentenced to life imprisonment with confiscation of property for a combination of crimes.

This was reported by Court Reporter with reference to the verdict.

The Kherson City Court found former judge Yulia Berlimova guilty of high treason and collaboration. She had been working as a judge since 2009, and during the full-scale invasion of Russia, she headed the Genichesk District Court of Kherson region.

During covert investigative actions, law enforcement officers received correspondence in Berlimova's telegram, which indicates that she was passing information to the enemy. The judge sent information about former police officers who had been tried for corruption and drugs, photocopies of indictments, personal data and possible addresses of employees of the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support with a pro-Ukrainian position, and also informed the occupants about employees of the Genichesk District Court.

Three Ukrainian citizens testified in court, in respect of whom the judge considered motions to change and extend preventive measures in the name of the Russian Federation in July-August 2023. A Russian flag was hanging at the hearings, Berlimova wore a robe, referred to Russian legislation, spoke Russian and behaved confidently, without signs of coercion. The information about the signatures on the documents was confirmed by a handwriting examination.

The judge is currently in the occupied territory, so she was sentenced in absentia with the participation of a defense lawyer from the free legal aid center. Berlimova was sentenced to life imprisonment with confiscation of property for the totality of her crimes.

The Kherson City Court also sentenced Natalia Sharko, the former head of the Genichesk District Court, to life imprisonment, finding her guilty of treason and collaboration after defecting to the occupiers. Sharko had been working in the judiciary since 2009, and during the full-scale invasion of Russia, she defected to the enemy.

Анна Бальчінос