The SBI served a notification of suspicion for high treason to a former Member of Parliament of Ukraine from the banned political party “Opposition Platform = For Life”

The employees of the State Bureau of Investigation served a notification of suspicion for high treason to a former Member of Parliament of Ukraine from the banned political party “Opposition Platform = For Life”, who might be hiding in russia.

The investigation established that between December 2022 and February 2023, during martial law, the former MP participated in and appeared on the program «TASS Is Authorized to Declare» on the Belarusian television channel «STV». Video recordings of the programs were published on YouTube.

During his broadcasts, he disseminated propaganda statements publicly supporting the decisions and actions of the russian federation's military and political leadership in the context of armed aggression against Ukraine. Such statements contributed to the formation of anti-government sentiments, contained elements of informational and psychological influence, and were aimed at undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity, defense capability, state and information security of Ukraine.

In addition, the employees of the SBI found that the former MP, being subject to declaration, deliberately failed to submit the electronic declarations required by law. This concerns:

• annual declarations for 2021 and 2022;
• a declaration in connection with the termination of powers for the period from January 1, 2023 to February 24, 2023;
• an annual declaration after dismissal — for 2023.

The suspect has been served notification of a suspicion for committing high treason under martial law (Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and intentional failure to submit declarations by a person authorized to perform state functions (Article 366-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

He faces life imprisonment.

It should be reminded that the SBI employees in May 2023 completed the pre-trial investigation in preliminary criminal proceeding against the same former MP and sent the indictment to the court. He is accused of high treason (Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and of intentionally causing minor bodily harm to an Anti-Terrorist Operation veteran (Part 1 of Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The procedural guidance is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General.