Kherson regional council deputy arrested for agribusiness with Russia

A deputy of the Kherson Regional Council of the VIII convocation is suspected of conducting agricultural business in the interests of the aggressor state in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region. The court imposed on him a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention.

This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, after the occupation of part of the region, the 60-year-old MP organized the work of controlled enterprises under Russian law and ensured their interaction with the occupation administration.

These are companies in the field of transport maintenance and grain growing, the founder and head of which is the suspect. In 2022, the companies were re-registered under Russian law, after which they began paying taxes and fees to the Russian budget.

The investigation believes that together with the spouses of the owners of agricultural companies and the director of one of the enterprises, the MP actually controlled the activities of several other agricultural firms in the Kakhovka district. They were also transferred to Russian jurisdiction.

According to law enforcement, the MP was responsible for organizing the work of the enterprises according to the rules of the occupation authorities. In particular, he allegedly ensured obtaining permits for land cultivation, fuel supplies, hiring employees, registering vehicles and equipment, and submitting reports to the occupation authorities.

Other suspects, according to the investigation, coordinated the companies' business activities, coordinated financial transactions and submitted documents for receiving subsidies from Russia.

Law enforcement officers found that the suspects controlled at least eight companies that worked in the interests of the aggressor state.

The MP was served a notice of suspicion of aiding and abetting in the conduct of economic activity in cooperation with the aggressor state and the occupation authorities, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, and a custody was chosen as a measure of restraint.

In turn, the media reported that it was a deputy of the Kherson Regional Council from the European Solidarity party, Valery Saltikov.

Three other defendants, who are in the temporarily occupied territory, were notified of suspicion in absentia.

The pre-trial investigation is being carried out by investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kherson region.

At the same time, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict.

Андрій Колісніченко