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Odessa resident who hung Russian flag gets 15 years in jail for treason

The agency said the man hung a Russian flag on one of the city’s buildings in August, took photos of it and disseminated the pictures "to be used as propaganda materials"

KIEV, November 29. /TASS/. A resident of Odessa, who hung a Russian flag on one of the city’s buildings, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of treason in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigations on Tuesday said the man was accused of divulging data about the movements of Ukrainian forces and plotting an abduction.

"A court has found a resident of Odessa guilty and sentenced him to 15 years in prison," the agency said on Telegram. It said he was charged with treason, collaborationism and abduction.

The agency said the man hung a Russian flag on one of the city’s buildings in August, took photos of it and disseminated the pictures "to be used as propaganda materials."

According to the agency, he also allegedly cooperated with Russian special services and passed them information about the movements and facilities of the Ukrainian armed forces in Odessa. The agency asserted that the man also plotted to abduct a local businessman.

The bureau of investigations said in November that it had opened about 1,100 cases since February 24 on charges of collaborationism and treason, and 436 suspects have already been indicted, another 286 people were wanted and more than 1,200 were investigated on suspicion of illegal activity.

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