Indictment Against 'Sevastopol Self-Defense' Member for High Treason

An indictment against a member of the illegal armed group 'Sevastopol Self-Defense' has been submitted to the court.

According to the press service of the Crimean Prosecutor's Office, he is accused of high treason, encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine and participation in illegal armed groups (Articles 111, 110 and 260 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, in February 2014, a citizen of Ukraine joined the "Sevastopol Self-Defense" to help the Russian army in the occupation of Crimea. He was on duty at the Goncharne checkpoint in Sevastopol, checking documents and inspecting vehicles heading to the city.

In addition, between February and March 2014, he and other members of this formation detained Crimean residents who opposed the so-called "Crimean Spring" and the illegitimate referendum on the peninsula's accession to Russia.

The prosecutor's office noted that the accused faces up to 15 years in prison. Earlier, the prosecutor's office has already sent the case of one of the coordinators of this armed group to court.

Earlier, under public prosecution of the autonomy's prosecutor's office, a former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the AR of Crimea of the VI convocation, who supported the decision to hold a "pan-Crimean referendum", was found guilty of treason. The man was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The prosecutor's office also noted that the convict is under international sanctions of the EU, the USA, the UK, Australia, Japan, etc.

Earlier, prosecutors proved in court that after the occupation of the Crimean peninsula, two former judges of the Sudak and Kerch city courts of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea betrayed their oath of allegiance to the people of Ukraine and joined the enemy. The judge found them guilty of treason in absentia and sentenced them to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Ірина Глухова