In Kherson, 86-year-old chairman of the public council was sentenced to 10 years in prison

The head of the occupation public council of Kherson region was sentenced to 10 years in prison for collaboration. He was sentenced in absentia.

This is stated in the verdict of the Kherson City Court.

According to the case file, in June 2022, the occupation authorities created a so-called "public council" under the military-civilian administration of the Kherson region. A local resident, realizing the illegality of the occupiers' actions, agreed to head this body and began to openly support the establishment of Russian power in the region.

On July 30, 2022, he took part in the forum "We are together with Russia", where he voted for the declaration "Russian Kherson" and called for the integration of the region into the Russian political and economic space. Subsequently, on September 20, 2022, at a meeting of the "public council" in the presence of dozens of people and Russian media, he publicly called for a"referendum" on the accession of Kherson region to Russia.

It is noted that during the trial, the court did not establish facts that would indicate that he acted under duress. The investigation was conducted in absentia, as he evaded the investigation and was put on the wanted list.

The court found the defendant guilty in absentia of collaboration under Article 111-1(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

The verdict does not disclose the name and surname of the convict, but according to media reports, it is 86-year-old Volodymyr Ovcharenko.

The court also seized his property - several land plots, a house, an apartment and a car.

Earlier, the prosecutor's office brought to court the case of a 62-year-old teacher from Kherson who headed a department at the occupiers' pseudo-university and implemented Russian standards. She will be tried for collaboration.

Ірина Глухова