Kharkiv Official Sentenced to Seven Years for Collaborating with Ru...

The sentence was handed down to the deputy of the Kupiansk district council after he allowed himself to be used by Russian authorities during the occupation of Kupiansk in the summer of 2022. As part of his collaboration with the occupying forces, he organized the illegal movement of more than 200 individuals, many of whom were children, to Krasnodar Krai in Russia.

The court found that he utilized his background in passenger transportation to execute the orders of the Russian administration effectively. Specifically, the deputy coordinated routes through the closed crossing point of 'Dovzhansky' and provided four buses and drivers for the operation, facilitating the logistics of transporting these individuals across the border.

This was reportedly part of a larger propaganda effort by Russian forces, which sought to showcase their supposed concern for Ukrainians. The prosecutor's office outlined that the deputy's actions were instrumental in furthering the objectives of the aggressor state, contributing to the forced displacement of Ukrainian citizens.

Following the liberation of Kupiansk by Ukrainian armed forces, the deputy fled to Russia to evade justice. He has been charged with collaboration and aiding illegal border crossings, according to the Ukrainian Criminal Code.

This includes serving a 10-year prohibition on involvement in any cargo or passenger transport activities post-sentence. Due to his current status in Russia, the duration of his sentence will only start to count upon his arrest.

The statute of limitations for his crimes will be suspended while he remains at large, as he is being actively sought by Ukrainian authorities. This case joins a growing list of convicted collaborators, highlighting the ongoing judicial efforts against those working with occupying forces in Ukraine.