The prosecutor's office has referred the case of the commander of the "Belbek" checkpoint to court

The occupation of Crimea has landed the commander of the "Belbek" checkpoint in the dock. The prosecutor’s office has filed an indictment with the court against the man, who is accused of treason. 

This was reported by the press service of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.

Investigators established that in February 2014, a Ukrainian citizen joined the ranks of the “Sevastopol Self-Defense Forces” and took command of the “Belbek” checkpoint, which the occupiers had set up near the airfield of the same name. It was created to prevent the Ukrainian military from responding to the seizure of Crimea by Russian forces.

According to the investigation, the defendant carried out orders from the leadership of the illegal armed group, organized the checkpoint regime, checked citizens’ documents, and conducted illegal searches of vehicles.

In addition, in March 2014, according to the prosecutor’s office, he provided security at polling stations during the illegal Crimea-wide referendum, which Ukraine and the international community do not recognize.

The man is charged with participating in an illegal armed group, high treason, and violating the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine. If found guilty, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Also in July, a Crimean resident who was captured during combat operations—the man had fought against the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the Russian army—stood trial. He received the maximum sentence for high treason.

Анна Бальчінос