Ivan Stolbovyy, the Head of the Balakliia Territorial Community, is cooperating with the russian invaders. He made a public announcement to local residents, according to the Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleh Synegubov.
"Stolbovyy betrayed the interests of the country, betrayed the Ukrainian Army and local community. Stolbovyy is now going to cooperate with those who kill Ukrainian people and destroy Ukrainian cities," Synegubov said.
Synegubov also stressed that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has increased the minimum sentence for treason. Thus, Ivan Stolbovyy faces from fifteen years of imprisonment up to life sentence.
Earlier, the criminal proceedings have been initiated against the former mayor of Izyum of the Kharkiv region Alexander Bozhkov, two current members of the City Council and the ex-policeman of the Kharkiv region, who are accused of treason against Ukraine. They fled to the enemy side and started cooperation with russian forces.