Mayor of Balakliia (the Kharkiv region) Ivan Stolbovyy was declared suspected of treason and collaborative activities. Suspicion is declared in absentia because he escaped during the war.
According to the data of investigation, during the occupation of the city in March, Stolbovyy decided to move to the side of the enemy. He willingly agreed to fulfill the powers of the mayor in the body supported by the occupation regime, it was reported by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine on Facebook.
"On March 28, the suspect held a meeting of the leadership of the Balakliia City Council, during which he campaigned for his deputies to loyal attitude both to the occupation forces and to the russian federation as a whole. On the same day, he held a meeting of local residents and announced the issuance of "humanitarian aid" by the russian military, as well as that it was negotiating with the leadership of the occupying troops to establish the work of communal services in the city," - said in the message.
Earlier, the russians entered Balakliia on March 2. Then the mayor promised not to cooperate with the occupiers. However, on April 7, the Head of Kharkiv RMA Oleh Syniehubov reported that Stolbovyy and his family fled to russia.