The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained a former MP from the banned Party of Regions who was trying to flee Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the SBU, Komersant ukrainskyi 
reports.
The SBU does not say who exactly it is, but according to Ukrayinska Pravda sources, the detainee is former Party of Regions member Vladyslav Lukianov.
“The offender was detained near a border checkpoint in Odesa region. From there, the 60-year-old tried to leave for a neighbouring country as a person of non-conscription age,”
– the statement said.
According to the investigation, in 2020, he became a deputy of the Bakhmut City Council from the banned OPFL. After the seizure of part of the region, the deputy cooperated with the occupiers 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 monitor the Internet activity of the local population.
At the same time, he moved to the territory controlled by Ukraine and managed the company remotely.
“It was he who ordered regular payments to the Russian budget in the form of ‘taxes’ and ‘fees’. In this way, the MP financed the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation and its occupation groups fighting against Ukraine. The offender also publicly justified Russia’s armed aggression, which he repeatedly discussed in chats on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels,”
– the SBU said in a statement.
Subsequently, the offender decided to flee abroad.
During the search, the SBU seized the detainee’s mobile phone and draft recordings with evidence of his criminal actions.
Currently, the MP was served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition of lawfulness, denial of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).
The issue of additional qualification of the defendant’s illegal activities is also being resolved. He faces imprisonment.
