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Ukrainian detained in Crimea on suspicion of involvement in banned battalion — officials

According to preliminary data, the detainee joined the ranks of an illegal armed group in 2016

SIMFEROPOL, May 30. /TASS/. A Ukrainian national has been detained in Crimea on suspicion of involvement in the banned Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion and is facing criminal charges, the Crimean branch of the Federal Security Service said in a statement on Monday.

"Officers of the Russian Federal Security Service branch for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, together with the border department of the FSB of Russia for the Republic of Crimea, detained in Crimea a citizen of Ukraine born in 1989, who is suspected of participating in the activities of the illegal armed unit "Battalion named after Noman Chelebidzhikhan," operating on the territory of a foreign state for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation," the statement said.

According to preliminary data, he joined the ranks of an illegal armed group in 2016. While on the territory of Ukraine, he was engaged in checking persons and vehicles at the facilities of the border area. A criminal case was opened against him under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Participation in an armed unit unstipulated for by federal law, as well as involvement in an armed unit on the territory of a foreign state not provided for by the legislation of this state, for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation").

He is facing a sentence of eight to 15 years in prison.

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