Former Kherson MP sentenced to 10 years in prison for working for the enemy

The court sentenced in absentia a collaborator working for the enemy in the occupied Kherson region to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property. She took a position in the occupation authorities and participated in propaganda and illegal elections.

This was reported by the Center for Investigative Journalism with reference to the court verdict.

44-year-old Nadiia Babeshko, previously unemployed, served as the first deputy mayor of the Ivanivka village community in the Genichesk district of Kherson region, and in 2023 she headed the occupation "council of mundeps". The Velyko Oleksandrivskyi District Court of Kherson region found her guilty of collaboration in absence.

According to the verdict, Nadiia Babeshko, a native of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, a resident of Ivanivka, became the first deputy head of the occupation administration of the Ivanivka community no later than May 2023.

In September 2023, she took part in illegal elections, where she was appointed a deputy from the pro-Russian United Russia party, and later the head of the occupation "council of mundeps," a position she still holds.

Babeshko has actively supported propaganda campaigns, including congratulating children on behalf of Putin on New Year's holidays and graduation from occupation schools. According to eyewitnesses, she participated in the illegal referendum and meetings of the occupation authorities.

The court found her guilty under Part 5 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine of collaboration and sentenced her in absentia to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property and a 15-year ban on holding positions in government, law enforcement and the public sphere.

In addition, Babeshko has to pay about UAH 8300 in court costs for the examination. The verdict has not yet entered into force. Nadezhda Babeshko is the daughter of Ivanivka village council member Serhiy Kanistratenko from the We Live Here party, and was previously a member of the Party of Regions.

Until February 2022, Babeshko was unemployed; she previously worked as a lawyer, deputy director of the employment center and chief legal officer of the Ivanivka district council.

Also, 55-year-old Andriy Kharytonov, the former director of the seized Kherson seaport, was convicted of collaboration. The court found him guilty in absentia of collaborating with the occupiers and sentenced him to nine years in prison with confiscation of property.

Анна Бальчінос