Pro-Russian blogger detained for his calls for govt overthrow
Law enforcement officers detained the TikToker and informed him of suspicion of disseminating calls for a violent change of government and denying the temporary occupation of Crimea using the media, the press service of the Kyiv-based prosecutor's office for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol reported.
"It has been established that the 35-year-old Kyiv resident, supporting the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine with the goal of persuading other citizens to his pro-Russian position, created and maintained several accounts on the TikTok social network," the Telegram message posted on Friday reads.
It is indicated that later, in 2023-2024, the suspect repeatedly distributed video materials through the social networks, in which he called for a violent change of the current Ukrainian government, namely the President and representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In addition, he denied the temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula.
The arrest was reported to have taken place on Thursday, October 10.
At the request of the prosecutor's office for the Autonomous region, the suspect was remanded in custody without the option of posting bail. He faces up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.