Treason and collaboration: former mayors who sided with Russia are on trial in Kharkiv region
23 February 15:48
In the Kharkiv region, court proceedings are ongoing against former mayors and officials who voluntarily sided with the Russian military at the start of the full-scale invasion. Some of them were charged in the early days of the occupation. This was stated in an interview with the YouTube channel "Komersant Ukrainian" by Oleksandr Filchakov, a prosecutor with the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
According to him, one of the most high-profile cases is the prosecution of the former mayor of Kupiansk.
“I can name several key traitors and collaborators. Everyone knows the mayor of Kupiansk, Hennadiy Matsegora. I am sure you have heard of him. He is the first mayor in Ukraine who voluntarily sided with the enemy. On February 27, he addressed the Russian military on his social media account and offered them his help,” Filchakov said.
Filchakov noted that, according to the investigation, the official actively assisted the occupying forces.
“He was involved in resettling Russian troops in Kupiansk, which they had already occupied. He fed these soldiers and provided them with fuel. He helped the Russians occupy our territories in every way possible.
On February 28, he was notified of suspicion under Article 111 of the Criminal Code. That is, treason,” he says.
Another figure in the case is Ivan Stolbovoy, head of the Balakliya Territorial Community.
“From the very beginning of the occupation of Balakliya on March 3, he voluntarily sided with the enemy. He voluntarily took a similar position as head of the territorial community.
In addition, on March 28, he held a meeting with his deputies, where he advocated for helping the Russian military, as well as the Russian Federation as a whole,” Filchakov said.
According to the prosecutor, on April 22, Stolbovoy was also notified of suspicion of high treason and collaboration.
Filchakov also mentioned the case of a village head from the Berestinsky district who, according to the investigation, collaborated with Russian special services even before the occupation of her community.
“This is Olena Tretyak, head of the Natalynska village council in the Berestinsky district. At the beginning of the war, she contacted the Russian special services and constantly sent them data on the deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the location of law enforcement meetings via Viber and Telegram,” Filchakov said.
According to the prosecutor’s office, she also compiled lists of pro-Ukrainian residents. The suspect was detained in early January 2023.
“Based on the results of the investigation of this criminal case by prosecutors and Security Service employees, she was detained in early January 2023. On January 19, I informed her that she was suspected of treason. She was remanded in custody without the right to bail,” Filchakov said.
According to the prosecutor, all of the aforementioned criminal proceedings are currently pending in court. At the same time, not all suspects admit their guilt.
“If we take Tretyak, for example, she does not admit her guilt, as far as I know. However, she wants to be exchanged with the Russian side,” he says.
The prosecutor emphasized that cooperation with the occupiers is a conscious choice that will have legal consequences regardless of the status or position of those involved.
