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Ukraine's Lymeshko escorted from Simferopol to Russia

He is now in Krasnodar.

Ukraine's Lymeshko escorted from Simferopol to Russia
Hennadiy Lymeshko
Photo: Screenshot

Ukrainian national Hennadiy Lymeshko convicted in annexed Crimea has been escorted to Russia, Radio Liberty correspondent Anton Naumlyuk has said on Facebook.

"Hennadiy Lymeshko, who was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of illegal production, transport and storage of ammunition and explosives, has been escorted out of Simferopol to serve his term. At present, Lymeshko is in Krasnodar," he said.

Lymeshko may tentatively be sent to Kabarda-Balkaria, Saratov or left in Krasnodar Territory.

In August 2017, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said that it had detained an "SBU agent" in Crimea as he was trying to damage the powerline from Sudak to Novyy Svit. The FSB published a video of Lymeshko's detention and interrogation, during which he admitted to plotting acts of sabotage in annexed Crimea. He was reportedly found to carry two TNT blocs, a fuse, an RGD-5 grenade, containers with combustible liquid, a hand saw and a digital camera "to document his sabotage activities and further report on them to his SBU handlers".

The SBU said his detention was an act of provocation and accused the Russian special services of using such fake news to intimidate the Crimean population. The Ukrainian Defence Ministry said that Lymeshko had been a contract serviceman but was dismissed for inaptitude in May 2017.

On 10 May, the Sudak city court found Lymeshko guilty and sentenced him to eight years in prison.

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