The Security Service of Ukraine pressed charges against the leader of the "LPR," Pasichnyk

The Security Service of Ukraine pressed charges against the leader of the "LPR," Pasichnyk

The leader of the terrorist organization "LPR" Leonid Pasichnyk has been notified of suspicion in a new criminal case. This time it concerns the intentional damage to the sovereignty of Ukraine, territorial integrity, and defense capability of the country. 

As specified in the suspicion, investigators gathered evidence of providing assistance to a foreign state in conducting subversive activities against Ukraine. This was reported by the SSU in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In particular, the collaborator is accused of treason (part 1 of article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and participation in organizing and conducting illegal elections on temporarily occupied territory and public calls for their holding (part 5 of article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

"Pasichnyk’s targeted anti-Ukrainian activities began in November 2017, when, with voluntary consent, he received the position of "acting head of LPR" from the occupiers. In 2018, he "won" false elections organized by political technologists of the Russian President’s administration to legitimize his stay in power," the SSU noted.

The Security Service also reminded that from 2018 to 2022, the person involved, "acting intentionally, with the aim of providing assistance to a foreign state and its representatives in conducting subversive activities against Ukraine and illegal change of the state structure," facilitated the implementation of "Russian legislative standards" in the occupied territory of Luhansk. 

In February 2022, Pasichnyk appealed to the Russian dictator with a request to recognize the independence of "LPR," after which the terrorists of the self-proclaimed "republic" signed a "friendship agreement" with Russia. 

"It was this "legal act" that the Kremlin used as a formal pretext for launching a large-scale war against Ukraine and capturing part of the Luhansk region. Later, Pasichnyk participated in signing an "agreement" with Putin on the annexation of the occupied region to Russia," the SSU recalled.

Among other episodes involving the person, organizing and participating in "elections to legislative bodies" in September 2023 and the Russian "presidential elections" in March 2024 are mentioned.