The Security Service of Ukraine detained a former member of the Party of Regions and a former deputy of the Bakhmut city council while he was trying to flee Ukraine.
The politician contributed to Russia's armed aggression, the SBU press service said. According to LB.ua sources, it is Vladyslav Lukyanov.
"The offender was detained near a border checkpoint in Odesa region. From there, the 60-year-old tried to travel to a neighbouring country as a person of non-conscription age," the SBU said.
In 2020, Lukyanov became a deputy of the Bakhmut City Council from the now-banned Opposition Platform - For Life (OPFL) party.
"After the seizure of part of the region, the defendant cooperated with the enemy and 're-registered' his own Internet service provider company under Russian law. In addition, he provided the FSB with full access to the available equipment, which allowed the Russian special service to control the Internet activity of the local population," the SBU explained.
He moved to the free part of Ukraine and ran his company from there. According to the investigation, Lukyanov ordered regular payments to the occupiers' budget in the form of "taxes" and "fees". "In addition, the offender publicly justified Russia's armed aggression, which he repeatedly said in chats on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels," the SBU added. Subsequently, the offender decided to flee abroad. During the search, the SBU seized the detainee's mobile phone and draft recordings of the MP's conversations with the Russian Federation. The MP was served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition of the lawfulness, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants). The issue of additional qualification of the defendant's illegal activities is also being resolved. He faces imprisonment.
Who is Vladyslav Lukyanov?
Vladyslav Lukyanov was a member of parliament of the fifth, sixth and seventh convocations - all the time from the Party of Regions. Then, in 2020, he was elected to the Bakhmut City Council from the hereditary party OPFL. At the same time, back in 2014, the Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a criminal case against 24 deputies who participated in a meeting of the Russian State Duma. Lukyanov was among them.
In April 2014, Lukyanov took part in the seizure of the Khartsyzsk City Council. He spoke under the banners of supporters of the occupation of eastern Ukraine, the CHESNO Movement wrote.