Former Ukrainian border guards from Crimea hunted residents of the peninsula

Kyiv has begun to consider the case of a pro-Russian blogger from Crimea who is accused of aiding the aggressor state. He propagandized in support of the Russian army, raised funds for ammunition and helped the occupiers identify pro-Ukrainian residents of the peninsula.

This was reported by the online publication Graty.

Podilskyi District Court of Kyiv has started the consideration of the case on the merits against pro-Russian blogger from Crimea Oleksandr Talipov, who is accused of aiding the aggressor state (Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The first hearing was held on May 26, but the accused did not appear in court despite repeated summonses.

According to the investigation, Talipov, who lives in the occupied Crimea, actively spreads Russian propaganda, supports the Russian army through videos and media speeches, organizes fundraisers and purchases equipment for the Russian military. He administers two telegram channels, which he uses to collect aid for the occupation forces and identify pro-Ukrainian citizens on the peninsula.

Talipov is a native of Sudak, a former border guard, pro-Russian politician and blogger, who is also called the Russian advisor to the head of Crimea. In his publications, he openly supports the Russian invasion and publishes personal data of Ukrainian activists with calls for harassment.

In 2023, he was notified of suspicion of assisting the aggressor state, and a year earlier, the SBU opened a case for inciting hatred through his telegram channels.

A former military officer who led the 3rd company of the so-called "Crimean Self-Defense" in 2014 and participated in the seizure of administrative buildings on the peninsula was also notified of suspicion.

In February 2014, the ex-soldier assembled a detachment of combat veterans, including participants in conflicts in the North Caucasus. This unit became part of the so-called Crimean Self-Defense as the third company headed by the organizer himself. He is accused of high treason, creating an illegal armed group and encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine - he currently holds the position of a deputy.

Анна Бальчінос