According to the investigation, the wife of the former MP, who was the leader of the Rodina political party and moved to Russia in 2014, founded an IT company in Moscow. The company developed software for enterprises and institutions established and affiliated with the Russian government, the Ministry of Defense and special services.
“In 2023, on behalf of the company, software was implemented for military helicopters of the Mi-26, Mi-35M, Mi-28N Night Hunter, and KA-52 Alligator series, which are used in the conduct of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine,” the statement said.
It should be noted that in June 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine served Markova with a notice of suspicion, and her real estate in Odesa worth more than UAH 250 million was seized by court order.
What punishment does she face?
An indictment was sent to court against the woman under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
High treason under martial law (Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) is punishable by imprisonment for a term of twelve to fifteen years with or without confiscation of property.
The former MP’s wife’s residential property and a land plot in Odesa have been transferred to the National Agency of Ukraine for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets.
However, the suspect will be tried in absentia, as she is not on the territory of Ukraine.
It should be noted that Ihor Markov himself was notified of suspicion under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including high treason, back in May 2023.
According to the investigation, the Member of Parliament of Ukraine of the VII convocation, a member of the Party of Regions, traveled to Russia in 2014, where he acted to the detriment of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. In July 2022, the suspect, being in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region together with Russian military personnel, publicly supported and promoted the actions of the created military formation called the Odesa Brigade. The so-called Odesa Brigade was created to provide armed resistance to law enforcement officers and military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The former MP publicly endorsed the actions of the occupiers and called for continuing the armed aggression using more severe methods. Thus, according to him, the next goal was to “liberate” Mykolaiv and Odesa. In his addresses, he called on the defenders of southern Ukraine to lay down their arms and not to resist, otherwise he threatened to kill them.
