MP Renat Kuzmin charged with high treason

The State Bureau of Investigation has issued a suspicion notice to People's Deputy Renat Kuzmin on high treason charges.

Ukrinform received the relevant confirmation from the SBI press service.

"People's deputy Renat Kuzmin has been formally charged with high treason," the statement reads.

It was the acting prosecutor general, who signed off the charges.

During the inquiry, law enforcement established that on the eve and at the onset of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the legislator published propaganda pieces to the detriment of Ukraine.

In particular, starting in March 2021 and even after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kuzmin voiced propaganda narratives in his addresses, messages on social networks, and on his own website. The purpose of posting such statements was to shape up anti-Ukrainian sentiment in society and exert media influence to the detriment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability, and security of the state.

The actions of the suspect are classified under Part 1 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason), which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years with the seizure of property.

Currently, while Kuzmin’s whereabouts are yet to be established, more than 10 simultaneous raids have been conducted for places of his possible stay.

Pre-trial investigation is underway.