Unit commander faces trial for treason and aiding Crimean

A unit commander will stand trial for facilitating the occupation of Crimea. He is accused of treason, encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine and participation in illegal armed groups.

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

Law enforcers submitted to the court an indictment against the commander of an illegal armed group in a village of the occupied peninsula.

According to the investigation, in February 2014, a citizen of Ukraine organized the creation of a unit of the "Crimean Self-Defense" in Gurzuf to assist the Russian military in the seizure of the peninsula. In March of the same year, the accused, together with his subordinates and other "self-defense" members, armed with firearms, participated in the seizure of the military unit A1100 - the 10th Saki Naval Aviation Brigade in Novofedorivka.

In addition, on March 16, 2014, the accused guarded polling stations and ensured the holding of the so-called referendum on the accession of Crimea to Russia. For his actions, he was awarded medals "For the Defense of Crimea", "For the Return of Crimea" and other awards of the occupying power.

He is accused of encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine (part 2 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), high treason (part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and participation in the activities of illegal armed groups (part 4 of Article 260 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The accused faces up to 15 years in prison for his actions.

Also in March, law enforcement officers served a notice of suspicion to the head of the illegal armed group Feodosia Regiment of the International Union of Cossacks. According to the investigation, at the end of February 2014, he created and headed this illegal armed group, which provided assistance to Russian troops during the occupation of Crimea.

The suspect organized the protection of pro-Russian rallies in Feodosia, participated in the seizure of administrative buildings and patrolling the streets, as well as in the creation of checkpoints with the verification of citizens' documents.

In addition, former SBU officer Igor Zadernovsky is suspected of treason. After the occupation of Crimea began, he sided with Russia and began working in one of the FSB units. In 2022, he participated in the occupation of Kherson region. Until November of that year, he interrogated prisoners, including pro-Ukrainian activists and civilians held in the colony.

Анна Бальчінос