A deputy from the Cherkasy Municipal Council in Ukraine was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of holding and discussing what authorities described as pro-Russian views and communicating on those topics with family members. The case was reported through the Telegram channel of Ukraine’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecution described the ruling as based on the article that covers justification, lawful recognition, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and the glorification of its participants. The sentence handed down was five years in prison.
The official release notes that the deputy is affiliated with the Opposition Platform – For Life (OPZZ), a party that has been banned within Ukraine, and that the individual currently serves as a deputy of the people’s representatives.
Earlier, Nestor Shufrych, a people’s deputy in the Verkhovna Rada and member of the Opposition Platform – For Life, faced a separate instance of treason suspicion.
The deputy is alleged to have deliberately supplied or attempted to supply assistance to a foreign state to carry out subversive activities against Ukraine. This alleged action would have involved a conspiracy with others and aimed at harming Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security of state information networks.
A broader discussion has persisted in Ukraine regarding the steps the country must take to align with European Union standards, reflecting ongoing debates about economic reform, anti-corruption measures, and governance improvements as part of a possible accession process.