MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has filed another charge in absentia against Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).

This time, he was charged with holding voting in Russia’s presidential election in the region.

The SBU said in a statement on Telegram that apart from Pushilin, charges have also been filed against Artyom Zhoga, DPR parliament chairman and co-chairman for Vlaidimir Putin’s election campaign, and Vladimir Vysotsky, chairman of the regional election commission. The two were accused of being collaborators.

Earlier, a Ukrainian court sentenced Pushilin in absentia to 15 years in prison on charges of collaboration and "encroachment on the country’s territorial integrity." Zhoga, in turn, was handed 12 years for allegedly "participating in the activities of a terrorist organization and illegal armed units." In addition, the DPR parliament chairman was also charged with collaboration after he said on December 8 that he had asked President Vladimir Putin on behalf of residents of Russia’s new regions, troops taking part in Moscow’s special military operation and other Russian citizens to run for president in 2024.