Propagandist Kryuchkov from Crimea convicted in Ukraine

The court handed down a verdict in absentia — 12 years' imprisonment with confiscation of property.

This was reported by the Crimean Prosecutor's Office.

An informed source in law enforcement agencies told Suspilne Crimea on condition of anonymity that the person in question is Oleg Kryuchkov.

‘The convicted person is a citizen of Ukraine who has been working for the occupiers since 2014. He began his career as a correspondent for the NTV television channel, and later became an ’advisor on information policy to the head of the Republic of Crimea" and general producer of the Crimea TV and Radio Company. Prosecutors proved that the “media personality” systematically disseminates content aimed at supporting the actions of the russian federation, calls for an aggressive war against Ukraine and justifies the occupation of part of its territory," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

The Security Service of Ukraine adds that in 2022, Kryuchkov expanded the network of the occupation holding, turning it into the main instrument of the russian federation's information aggression in southern Ukraine.

"According to the case file, the suspect personally oversaw the creation of new propaganda media centres in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Currently, this ‘information network’ includes 19 pro-russian television studios, radio stations and online resources. Through these “media”, the occupiers spread fakes and propaganda, as well as justify their war crimes," the SBU said.

The court found Oleg Kryuchkov guilty of promoting war (Article 436 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), justifying the temporary occupation of part of Ukraine's territory using the media (Part 3 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), and collaboration (Part 6 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment with confiscation of property.

He is currently under sanctions imposed by Ukraine, EU countries, Switzerland and Japan.

Earlier, a Ukrainian court sentenced 59-year-old propagandist Serhiy Veselovsky from occupied Crimea in absentia for collaboration and justifying russian armed aggression.

The Crimean and Sevastopol Prosecutor's Office explained to Suspilne Krym that sentences handed down as a result of special court proceedings — court proceedings in the absence of the defendant (‘in absentia’ sentences) — come into force in the usual manner, namely after the deadline for filing an appeal (30 days from the date of the verdict), if no such appeal has been filed.

If an appeal is filed, the sentence, if not overturned, becomes legally binding after the decision of the court of appeal. At the same time, the start of the sentence for the convicted person is counted from the moment of their arrest.

Source: Suspilne Crimea