Russian politician to be tried in Kherson region for propaganda of occupation

An indictment has been sent to court against the head of the Russian Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the State Duma, who is accused of facilitating the formation of the occupation political system in the temporarily occupied Kherson region.

According to the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office, according to the investigation, in 2023, the accused took an active part in the preparation and conduct of illegal "elections" in the occupied part of Kherson region. In particular, he organized the creation of regional branches of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, formed the structure of the occupation authorities and approved lists of candidates for the so-called Kherson Regional Duma and illegal "municipal district councils."

Law enforcement officials believe that the Russian politician was also engaged in propaganda activities. He spoke at political events, recorded video messages and distributed statements in support of the occupation of Ukrainian territories.

In addition, in his speeches, the accused justified Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, supported the activities of the occupation administrations and stated that the residents of the occupied territories allegedly supported Russia.

The investigation also found that in his addresses he raised the issue of perpetuating the memory of fallen collaborators and discussed the use of natural resources in Kherson region under the control of the occupation authorities.

According to the prosecutor's office, the video and other propaganda materials were distributed through the resources of the Liberal Democratic Party and the occupation administration in social networks.

In turn, the media note that this is Leonid Slutsky, who has been the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) since 2022.

The special pre-trial investigation was conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine in Kherson region.

Recently, State Duma deputy Yana Lantratova, who is accused in Ukraine of illegally taking children from occupied Kherson, was appointed as the new human rights commissioner in Russia.

As a reminder, the UN International Commission of Inquiry concluded that the removal of Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories by Russia is a crime against humanity. In addition, the commission considers the delay in their return to Ukraine a war crime.

In addition, the prosecutor's office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol sent an indictment to the court againsta "deputy" of the occupation "State Council of the Republic of Crimea" who had previously participated in the activities of the illegal armed group "Self-Defense of Crimea".

Андрій Колісніченко