Former Odesa region deputy to stand trial for treason
The case of a former city council deputy from the Odesa region, accused of high treason and cooperation with Russia, has been referred to court. According to the investigation, he supported pro-Russian actions as early as 2014 and coordinated them with representatives of the Russian Federation, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has reported.
He faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property. The accused is currently in custody. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the individual in question is former deputy Valentyn Chernov. Investigators believe he did not act alone but as part of a group and coordinated his actions with the Russian side.
According to law enforcement, in late February 2014, Chernov organised a mass event in Odesa, where calls were made for the deployment of Russian troops to Ukraine under the pretext of “protecting the Russian-speaking population”. “The accused publicly supported the holding of an illegal ‘referendum’ on Crimea’s accession to the Russian Federation and called for a similar scenario to be implemented in Odesa,” the Prosecutor General’s Office stated.
Investigators also say that the former deputy maintained constant contact with representatives of Russia. He allegedly passed them information about the situation in the region and helped coordinate pro-Russian organisations. In March–April 2014, according to the investigation, Chernov received instructions on preparing protests and was aware of plans to seize the Odesa Regional Council building.
In addition, he repeatedly called for a “referendum” on autonomy for the Odesa region, spoke about alleged “discrimination against the Russian language”, and openly supported the annexation of Crimea. According to law enforcement, Chernov also had contacts with representatives of Russian intelligence. He is believed to have headed a so-called “coordination council” that organised Anti-Maidan rallies at Kulikove Field in Odesa.
Participants in these rallies appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to send troops into Ukraine. The investigation considers these actions to have been part of broader provocations that led to the tragic events in Odesa on 2 May 2014.
The former deputy was detained in October last year by officers of the State Bureau of Investigation and has remained in custody since then. The case has now been sent to court for consideration on the merits.
Additionally, the Prosecutor General’s Office has referred to court a case involving drug dealers from Cherkasy.
Earlier, in Dnipro, a scheme for leaving the country through fictitious fatherhood was uncovered.
Another scheme involving fake medical conditions to evade mobilisation was exposed in Kryvyi Rih.
