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Ukrainian soldier jailed to 9 years for Russian citizenship request

The Ukrainian National Guard soldier who in early 2014 sent an online application for Russian citizenship and a job request to Russian special services was accused of high treason

© ITAR-TASS/Artyom Geodakyan

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KIEV, February 18. /TASS/. A court in the town of Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, has sentenced a Ukrainian National Guard soldier who applied for Russian citizenship last year to nine years in prison, Ukraine's official justice portal said on Wednesday.

The soldier who in early 2014 sent an online application for Russian citizenship and a job request to Russian special services was accused of high treason, the portal said.

Prosecutors said that the soldier was allegedly ordered to collect information about his military unit, although, according to witnesses, he had no access to classified information.

The soldier pleaded not guilty and has the right to appeal the court decision within 30 days.

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