Suspect in Crimea Occupation, Leader of Feodosia Cossacks Group Charged

The head of the illegal armed group "Feodosia Regiment of the International Union of Cossacks" is suspected of facilitating the occupation of Crimea.

According to the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, in late February 2014, a citizen of Ukraine created and headed the Feodosia Regiment of the International Union of Cossacks, an illegal armed formation that assisted the Russian army in the occupation of the Crimean peninsula.

According to the investigation, the suspect organized the activities of the illegal armed group to protect pro-Russian rallies, seize administrative buildings and institutions in Feodosia, patrol public places, stand guard at checkpoints and check citizens' personal documents.

"In particular, on February 26, 2014, the 'commander', accompanied by members of the 'Cossacks' under his control, arrived at the building of the Feodosia City Council for an extraordinary session, where he blocked its participants and demanded to create units of 'people's guards' in the city to confront the current government," the statement said.

Also in March 2014, the suspect organized and directly participated in the seizure of the building of the Feodosia Prosecutor's Office for supervision over the observance of laws in the military sphere, and together with the Russian Armed Forces carried out a blockade of the military unit A2272 in Feodosia.

"For his services to the occupiers, the suspect was awarded the medal "For the Defense of Crimea". He faces up to 15 years in prison," the prosecutor's office said.

Thus, under the procedural supervision of the autonomy prosecutor's office, the head of the illegal armed group "Feodosia Regiment of the International Union of Cossacks" was served a notice of suspicion of encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, high treason, creation and participation in the activities of an armed group not provided for by law, and attack on institutions.

Earlier, the autonomy's prosecutor's office submitted an indictment against a member of the illegal armed group Sevastopol Self-Defense to the court. 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.

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