Kindergarten teacher in Kherson region jailed for campaigning

A former employee of a kindergarten in Kherson region was found guilty of collaborating with the occupiers during the illegal referendum. She was sentenced to six years in prison with confiscation of property.

This is evidenced by the verdict of the Velyko Oleksandrivskyi District Court of Kherson Oblast.

According to the investigation, in July 2022, as part of the organization of an illegal referendum on the accession of Kherson region to the Russian Federation, an election commission was created by decree of the head of the regional council, which included seven people, including the accused. The commission operated in the villages of Odradokamianka, Mykolayivka and Burgunka of the Tyahyn territorial community of Beryslav district.

The accused, who had previously worked as a teacher in a local kindergarten, accepted the offer to join the commission. From September 23 to 27, 2022, she and other persons made door-to-door visits to the villagers and encouraged them to take part in illegal voting. The woman had voter lists, distributed ballots and kept records of citizens who had allegedly voted.

Witnesses noted that the defendant's group actively campaigned for the support of the aggressor country. The Russian military accompanied the members of this group during door-to-door visits, guarded them and put pressure on local residents, most of whom were pensioners.

In addition, during the occupation, the accused worked in a so-called humanitarian center and distributed humanitarian aid from the Nazis. One of the witnesses noted that the occupiers planned to appoint her director of a local kindergarten because of her experience as a teacher.

The accused herself claimed that she actually participated for only one day and did not receive any remuneration. She stayed in the village with her parents, who were elderly and in need of care at the time. With the start of the full-scale invasion, she stayed at home, did not understand whether to leave or stay, and was in a state of uncertainty and fear.

After the establishment of the occupation regime, the village found itself without communication, without the possibility to receive humanitarian aid, food and medicine. She also emphasized that she did not support the occupation authorities, and that her actions were motivated by fear for her life and the harsh conditions of the occupation. After the de-occupation of the Kherson region, the defendant moved to Odesa, where she stayed with her daughter.

The court sentenced her to six years in prison, with a 15-year disqualification from holding public and elected office, and confiscation of all her property.

Another collaborator, who headed the occupation administration of Abrikosivka in Kherson region, was also sentenced to 9 years in prison. Although she had already been killed by the Russian military, the court found her guilty of collaborating with the enemy.

Анна Бальчінос