Ukrainian Ex-Minister of Education suspected of treason

Dmytro Tabachnyk, Ukraine’s Education Minister in Viktor Yanukovych's government [from 2010 to 2014-ed.], has been notified that he is under suspicion of treason. Tabachnyk is suspected of helping Volodymyr Saldo and Yevhen Balytskyi, Kremlin-appointed puppet leaders of the occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor General

Details: The notice of suspicion dated 22 November states that Tabachnyk "consented to cooperate with representatives of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and decided to help the latter in carrying out subversive activities against Ukraine". The notice states that Tabachnyk did so no later than 1 May 2022, that is, during the time of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and while staying at an unspecified address.

The notice says that Tabachnyk, "acting on behalf of representatives of the highest authorities of the Russian Federation, including the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation", organised and coordinated the activities of Saldo and Balytskyi "in the fields of health care, education and referendums preparation."

On 1 May, Tabachnyk allegedly facilitated the connection between Saldo, Balytskyi and Andrey Plutnitskiy, Deputy Health Minister of the Russian Federation, with the intent that representatives of the occupation authorities establish and run the healthcare field in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The notice gives the dates when Tabachnyk contacted Saldo and Balytskyi, as well as phone numbers and details of their conversations.

In particular, Tabachnyk is accused of preparing a draft document on behalf of Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, entitled "Reporting memorandum on the need to provide armed guard to citizen support facilities, schools, medical institutions and polling stations on the territory of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblasts" signed by Balytskyi and Saldo.

On 16 August, Tabachnyk reportedly contacted a handler with the codename "Oleg Vadimovich Kozlov", who is an employee of the 9th directorate of the current information department of the 5th service of the FSB of the Russian Federation. Tabachnyk allegedly informed the handler about Balytskyi's incompetence in solving issues related to establishing a network of pharmacies in the temporarily occupied territory and pricing of pharmaceutical products, as well as improper storage of vaccines and insulin.

"Thus, Dmytro Volodymyrovych Tabachnyk is suspected of committing a criminal offence provided for in Article 111.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - high treason, which is an act wilfully committed by a citizen of Ukraine in the detriment of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability, defence capability, and state, economic or information security of Ukraine; assistance in subversive activities against Ukraine provided to a foreign state, a foreign organisation or their representatives at the time of martial law or armed conflict," the suspicion states.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!