Criminal Proceedings Initiated Regarding Ukrainian Lawmakers Trip to Russian Duma

The Chief Investigations Department opened criminal proceedings regarding the fact of Ukrainian deputies participation in a session of the Russian State Duma under the article of violation of territorial integrity of Ukraine.

This was stated by Adviser to Interior Minister Zorian Shkiriak at a briefing, Censor.NET reports referring to Interfax-Ukraine.

"Regarding fact of people's deputies (of Ukraine) participation in a session of the State Duma, the Chief Investigations Department opened criminal proceedings," he said.

Shkiriak said that the proceedings were initiated under Part 2 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code (violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine by the authorities), which provides for prison term of 5-10 years.

Earlier, speaker Turchynov called the trip of a number of Ukrainian lawmakers to the State Duma of the Russian Federation a show of disrespect and betrayal of the country.

Read also: Turchynov: Ukrainian MPs Who Visited Russian Duma Should Not Be Paid Salaries and Allowed to Participate in Parliamentary Sessions.

The meeting of Ukrainian deputies with the speaker of the lower chamber was announced by head of the Committee for CIS Affairs Leonid Slutsky, who noted that they risked their lives to "defend the interests of the" Russian world ".