14 years for high treason: mother of former MP Berezhna receives sentence with confiscation
13 December 2024 23:42
The mother of former Party of Regions MP Iryna Berezhna, who prepared anti-Ukrainian speeches for the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the Security Service of Ukraine and the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.
The SBU says it detained her in March 2022 in Kyiv. The FSB agent was a member of the inner circle of former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and was engaged in subversive activities in Ukraine “under the guise” of the head of a public organization.
The report does not name the convicted woman, but judging by the published photographs, it is Olena Berezhna, the mother of former MP of the Verkhovna Rada of the VI and VII convocations, Iryna Berezhna.
According to the investigation, she was preparing the theses of the speech of the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations for the 11th session of the General Assembly, which took place in the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In particular, the defendant wrote that “the people of Ukraine support the Russian special operation in Ukraine”, that looting, murder, and robbery had begun in Ukraine, and that politicians were allegedly officially calling for “killing Russians”. The Russian curators in their correspondence advised the woman to “stay at home until the situation is completely cleared.”
Then, the Permanent Representative of the aggressor country used the official letter of the head of the NGO to discredit Ukraine in the international arena and justify Russia’s armed aggression.
The court found her guilty under Part 1 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason) and sentenced her to 14 years in prison with confiscation of property.
The investigation also found that in addition to preparing anti-Ukrainian statements in international institutions, the traitor prepared “reports” on the socio-political situation in Ukraine for the occupiers.
She also appeared on Viktor Medvedchuk’s banned TV channels, where she spread Kremlin narratives allegedly on behalf of a “public asset” of Ukraine.
During the searches, Azarov’s accomplice was found to have cell phones and flash drives that she used in subversive activities in favor of Russia.
Background
Olena Berezhna is known for her anti-Ukrainian views, publications in social media and regular appearances on Russian television. In particular, she spoke about the “terror of the Russian-speaking population” in Ukraine.
Her daughter, Iryna Berezhna, died on August 5, 2017, in a car accident on the Adriatic coast.
Iryna Berezhna was a Ukrainian politician, Member of Parliament of Ukraine of the VI and VII convocations, a member of the Party of Regions.
