Former ’minister’ of occupying government of Crimea detained in Kyiv, - SSU. PHOTO
The Security Service of Ukraine has detained in Kyiv the former head of the Crimean Autonomous Republic’s Republican Committee on Fuel, Energy and Innovation Policy, who, following the occupation of the peninsula, defected to Russia and went on to head the illegal ‘ministry’ of the occupying administration.
According to Censor.NET, this was reported by the SSU press centre.
According to the SSU, following the temporary occupation of Crimea in 2014, the man obtained Russian citizenship and offered his assistance to the occupying authorities. Subsequently, the so-called "head of Crimea", Sergey Aksyonov, appointed him "Minister of Fuel and Energy of the Republic of Crimea".
According to the investigation, in this role he facilitated the establishment of Russian control over key energy infrastructure facilities on the peninsula.
He helped integrate Crimea’s energy system into that of the Russian Federation
This includes, in particular, the Simferopol and Sevastopol combined heat and power plants, the Tavria Thermal Power Station, a network of solar and wind power stations, gas pipelines, gas compressor stations, as well as oil depots and oil terminals in Kerch and Feodosia.
According to the SSU, for two years following his appointment, the individual was involved in the integration and ‘re-registration’ of Crimean energy assets in accordance with Russian legislation.
After his dismissal from the occupying "government", he continued to work in the interests of the Kremlin, heading several companies in the extractive industry in occupied Crimea.
Arrested in the Ukrainian capital
SSU officers detained the suspect in Kyiv, where he had travelled to attend to personal matters.
During searches, law enforcement officers seized Russian passports, bank cards and documents which, according to the investigation, confirm his collaboration with the aggressor state.
Suspected of high treason
SSU investigators informed the detainee that he is suspected of an offence under Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason).
By court order, he is being held in custody without the right to bail. The offence carries a sentence of up to 15 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Comprehensive measures were carried out by SSU officers in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
