Sentencing of the LNR Human Rights Commissioner
A Ukrainian citizen who held the position of human rights commissioner within the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) has been sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison. She faced charges related to attempting to forcibly alter Ukraine’s constitutional order and seize governmental control, as well as unlawfully changing the country’s territorial boundaries. The trial proceeded without her presence, as she functioned as an official within the occupation administration of the self-proclaimed LNR entity.
Her actions were prosecuted under Part 1 of Article 109 and Part 2 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Prior to the occupation of parts of Luhansk Oblast, she worked as a police investigator. In 2021, she voluntarily accepted the role of human rights commissioner in the LNR. During her tenure, she collaborated with representatives from the Russian Federation and followed directives from LNR authorities aimed at sustaining the occupation governance framework.
Court Rulings and Implications
The court also ordered the confiscation of all her assets. The pre-trial investigation was conducted by investigators from the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation in Kyiv, with operational support from the Department of Internal Security of the National Police of Ukraine. Details of the case were released by the press office of the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.
This ruling highlights ongoing legal measures against individuals cooperating with occupying forces within Ukraine. Such verdicts serve as a deterrent to others who might engage in activities undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Furthermore, the confiscation of property forms part of the state’s broader strategy to combat collaborationism, potentially influencing future legal proceedings and reinforcing Ukraine’s commitment to upholding its national unity.