Occupation minister from Kherson region gets prison term

SBU materials help to sentence pseudo-minister of ecology of Kherson region to 10 years in prison in absentia

According to the SBU press service, a native of Kherson, Mykola Bystryantsev, who collaborated with representatives of the aggressor state during the occupation of Kherson, was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison.

Thus, SBU officers documented that in September 2022, the man got a job at the so-called "Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Fisheries of Kherson Region" as the "First Deputy Minister" and later headed the so-called "Ministry".

The convict organized and supervised the work of the structural units of the pseudo-agency. He "took care" of property issues related to the functioning of the laboratory of the "ministry". He attended public events with the participation of the occupation leadership of the region, where he "reported" on the functioning of nature reserves in the territory of Kherson region temporarily occupied by the occupiers. Bystryantsev also shared the results of his "work" Bystryantsev also shared the results of his "work" with the Russian-controlled media. The pseudo-minister also "improved" his managerial skills by participating in forums and meetings on environmental issues in the temporarily occupied Crimea and Russia.

Based on the evidence collected, the court found the enemy accomplice guilty under Part 5 of Art. 111-1 (collaboration) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In addition to a 10-year prison sentence, he was also deprived of the right to hold positions in state and local government for 15 years.

The pre-trial investigation was carried out by the SBU Office in Kherson region under the procedural supervision of the Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Володимир Шкаєв