Beating, torture and kidnapping: a former law enforcement officer who had been convicted of treason, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Zaporizhia

Based on materials from the SBI, the Dniprovsky District Court of Zaporizhia found a former law enforcement officer from Yakymivka guilty of voluntarily defecting to the enemy and participating in the brutal abuse of civilians.

He began his «career» with the occupiers as the head of the «criminal investigation» department in the occupied Yakymivsky district department of internal affairs, and later became deputy head of the district police unit in the so-called «police department No. 3».

In close cooperation with the russian military, the defendant organized a real reign of terror against the civilian population of the Melitopol district. He personally participated in illegal searches, abductions, and brutal abuse of civilians who adhered to pro-Ukrainian views.

The armed occupiers, together with a traitor, broke into people's homes, intimidated them with weapons, brutally beat them, and threatened to kill them.

The city's residents became victims of reprisals for singing the Ukrainian song «Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow» during a private meeting or expressing support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The victims were taken to the premises of the former State Traffic Police in Melitopol, which the invaders turned into a place of illegal detention and torture. There, people were held against their will for several days, subjected to physical violence and psychological pressure. The occupiers and their accomplices tried to break the will of the citizens, forcing them to recognize the invading power, glorify the aggressor state, and even learn and sing russian songs.

Following the proceedings, the former law enforcement officer was found guilty of:

• Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – high treason;
• Part 7 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – voluntarily taking up a position in illegal law enforcement agencies in a temporarily occupied territory;
• Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – cruel treatment of civilians, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons.

He was sentenced in absentia to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The procedural guidance is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Zaporizhia Regional Prosecutor's Office.