“Under the guise of a ‘veche’: SBU announces exposure of coup attempt
1 July 2024 10:32
The Security Service of Ukraine has exposed and stopped an attempted coup d’état planned for 30 June 2024 in Kyiv. This was reported in the press service of the SBU, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
According to the SBU, a group of so-called “public activists” was preparing large-scale provocations aimed at overthrowing the current government and destabilising the situation in the country.
According to the investigation, the group was organised by the co-founder of a public organisation known for its anti-Ukrainian actions since 2015. Representatives of NGOs from Kyiv, Dnipro and other regions of Ukraine were involved in the criminal activity.
The plan of the rebels included the following stages:
- Holding an allegedly peaceful ‘veche’ in the centre of Kyiv to gather people.
- Announcement of the “removal from power” of the current military and political leadership of Ukraine.
- Seizing the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and blocking its work.
- Dissemination of information about the ‘unrest’ through domestic and foreign media.
The peculiarity of the plan was that most of the participants of the event were to be used “in the dark”, without disclosing their true intentions regarding provocations. By doing so, the perpetrators hoped to create the appearance of mass support for their actions.
For conspiracy purposes, the conspirators communicated via various messengers and held meetings in small groups of three.
During the searches of the suspects’ residences, the SBU seized weapons and ammunition:
- Weapons and ammunition.
- Mobile phones and computer equipment.
- Draft records with evidence of criminal intent.
The detainees were served a notice of suspicion under Article 109 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (actions and calls for actions aimed at the violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or the seizure of state power). The court imposed on them a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention.
The detainees face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.
