{"id":254776,"date":"2023-05-20T10:33:14","date_gmt":"2023-05-20T07:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/investigator.org.ua\/?p=254776"},"modified":"2023-05-31T01:09:03","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T22:09:03","slug":"%d0%ba%d1%80%d1%8b%d0%bc%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b8%d0%b9-%d0%b4%d0%b5%d1%81%d0%b0%d0%bd%d1%82-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%b2%d1%8b%d0%b1%d0%be%d1%80%d1%8b-%d0%b2-%d0%be%d0%ba%d0%ba%d1%83%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%86","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/investigator.org.ua\/en\/investigations\/254776\/","title":{"rendered":"Crimean Landing Party. Collaborators from Crimea and Sevastopol Run for \u00abElections\u00bb to Occupation Authorities of Zaporizhzhia Region"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Russians and their collaborators actively prepare for illegal elections to \u00ablegislative\u00bb and \u00abrepresentative\u00bb bodies on newly occupied territories of Ukraine in September 2023. Russian political party \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb conducts so-called preliminary electronic voting (primary elections), borrowed from the USA and other \u00abunfriendly\u00bb countries. Participants of these primaries are local traitors and collaborators as well as residents from Crimea and Sevastopol who have not received positions in Russian occupation authorities there. We found subjects of the previous CJI\u2019s investigations: militant of so-called \u00abRussian Spring\u00bb, Cossack chief and even corrupted \u00abminister\u00bb of Sergei Aksyonov, \u00abthe Head of Crimea\u00bb.<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n

Wrestler, bandit, militant\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sevastopol resident Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Synyavsky<\/strong> (date of birth \u2013 12.03.1979) comes from sports and semi-bandit bodies. In January 2014, their participants created para-military unit \u00abSlavic Shield\u00bb, together with Russian \u00abNight Wolves\u00bb, to fight the Revolution of Dignity. This unit joined illegal armed \u00abSamooborona of Sevastopol\u00bb [Self-Defense of Sevastopol]. It has been managed by the Headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. \u00abSelf-Defense of Sevastopol\u00bb directly participated in the overthrow of legitimate city authorities and Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula. Synyavsky commanded military unit \u00abBison\u00bb (see special project of the CJI \u00abCollaborators of Putin. Sevastopol<\/a>\u00bb).<\/p>\n

During illegal \u00abreferendum\u00bb about joining Russia, Oleksandr Synyavsky headed one of Viktor Medvedchuk\u2019s initiative groups \u00abUkrainian Choice\u00bb. With his militants, he guarded voting stations.<\/p>\n

Synyavsky\u2019s services to the Russian Federation were praised by several medals and letters of gratitude from Russian occupation authorities. However, like many other \u00abheroes of the Russian Spring\u00bb, Synyavsky did not receive any public offices in occupied Sevastopol. He joined the team of \u00abHead of Crimea\u00bb Sergey Aksyonov, as his activity in occupied Zaporizhzhia region demonstrated.<\/p>\n

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Oleksandr Synyavsky. Photo: Facebook<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Oleksandr Synyavsky\u2019s application for the primary elections of \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb indicates that he is the manager of projects of TV and Radio company \u00abKrym\u00bb, controlled by Sergey Aksyonov. Russian propagandists call Synyavsky an advisor of Aksyonov and Crimean representative in occupied Zaporizhzhia region. Video, posted on Synyavsky\u2019s Facebook account in September 2022, demonstrates armed Synyavsky speaking \u00abon behalf of people\u2019s militia\u00bb of Crimea and Sevastopol.<\/p>\n

In March 2022, Synyavsky directly participated in the deportation of children<\/a> from occupied Donetsk region. As a minimum, 77 children, graduates of secondary schools and participants of sports clubs of Donetsk, were brought to occupied Sevastopol.<\/p>\n

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Oleksandr Synyavsky (indicated by arrow) and children deported from occupied Donetsk region. Photo:\u00a0spravedlivo.ru<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

It is interesting that he was presented as an activist of Russian political party \u00abA Just Russia \u2013 for Truth\u00bb of Mironov-Prilepin at that time. However, he decided to run for elections to \u00ablegislative body\u00bb of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia region from another party.<\/p>\n

In Ukraine, Oleksandr Synyavsky is accused of the state treason, creating illegal military unit and organizing illegal referendum. His indictment has been submitted<\/a> by the Prosecutor\u2019s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to the court in June 2021. No court decisions have been issued since then.<\/p>\n

Father and son Komelov <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sevastopol activist Ivan Mykolayovych Komelov<\/strong> (date of birth \u2013 26.09.1975) has participated in Russian occupation and annexation of Crimean peninsula together with Synyavsky. He headed an initiative group of Medvedchuk\u2019s \u00abUkrainian Choice\u00bb during preparation of illegal \u00abreferendum\u00bb. He organized and oversaw patrolling of the city, including the railway station, hospitals and TV companies. His indictment has been still considered by district court of Kyiv.<\/p>\n

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Ivan Komelov (second from the left) and \u00abNight Wolves\u00bb at the meeting in Sevastopol, March, 12, 2014. Photo: Facebook\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Komelov has not received any public appointment in Sevastopol occupied with his active participation. After the Russian annexation of Crimea, he protested against illegal building sites. Now he attempts to enter occupation authorities in occupied Zaporizhzhia region. He moved to the region in 2022. He followed Anton Tytsky<\/a>, Sevastopol traitor and occupation \u00abyouth minister\u00bb. Komelov became his advisor and changed his party affiliation from \u00abRodina\u00bb [Motherland] to Russian ruling party \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb.<\/p>\n

Ivan Komelov registered for primary elections of \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb and also included his son Mykyta Komelov<\/strong> into \u00abZaporizhzhia primaries\u00bb. <\/p>\n

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Mykyta and Ivan Komelovs. Photo: Facebook \u0418\u0432\u0430\u043d \u041a\u043e\u043c\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

There is nothing particular about 23 years old Komelov. In 2019, he made \u00abpatriotic\u00bb comments about conscription to the Russian Black Sea Fleet in media and that is all.<\/p>\n

Masquerading Cossack chief from Tavrida <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sergii Mykolayovych Yurchenko<\/strong> (date of birth \u2013 22.04.1975) calls himself \u00abdeputy commander of the brigade of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation\u00bb in his application for primary elections.<\/p>\n

In Crimea, he has been known as the chief of pro-Russian Cossacks in Bakhchysarai. They conducted public events against Crimean Tatars and assisted pro-Russian organizations and Russian Orthodox Church all around Crimea.<\/p>\n

In 2014, Yurchenko headed Cossacks\u2019 group in illegal armed unit \u00abSelf-Defense of Crimea\u00bb. He participated<\/a> in seizing buildings of legitimate Ukrainian authorities in Simferopol and Bakhchysarai and blocking premises of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. When military fighting erupted in Donbas, he joined pro-Russian terrorists, was detained by the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) but then exchanged for soldiers of \u00abAlpha\u00bb unit of SBU.<\/p>\n

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Sergii Yurchenko (to the right) in Terpinnya village of Melitopol district. Photo: Russian occupation media<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Yurchenko came to the occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia region during first months of the Russian invasion. As self-proclaimed \u00abhead of Zaporizhzhia Cossacks\u00bb, he and local traitor Igor Lysenko formed Cossack armed units in occupied settlements.<\/p>\n

However, Yurchenko did not join Cossack battalion \u00abTavrida\u00bb created by Sergey Aksyonov. He seizes prosperous private farms and holds a position in the rural occupation administration.<\/p>\n

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Sergii Yurchenko near grain stolen from the private farm. Photo: screenshot of video <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

In 2014-2015, Sergii Yurchenko was served with suspicions about state treason, separatism and an overthrow of legitimate Ukrainian authorities. Now this list of alleged crimes will include collaborator activity. However, there are still no court decisions about his old indictments.<\/p>\n

Grain carrier Tsurkin\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anatolii Vasylyovych Tsurkin<\/strong> (date of birth is 03.03.1978) is the former \u00abminister\u00bb of transport of the occupation government of Crimea. He has held this position until January 2015 when he was appointed as an advisor of \u00abHead of Crimea\u00bb Sergii Aksyonov. The Crimean court passed a verdict for him \u2013 three years of conditional term. Under this influence, the Crimean ferry gave preferences for the cargo company of his relative.<\/p>\n

Since 2022, Tsurkin has organized cargo transportation on the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions as well as from Crimea to Russia through land corridor. Trucks of Tsurkin\u2019s companies carry bitumen for the construction of roads, in order to transport stolen Ukrainian grain to sea ports and Russia, stolen steel from Mariupol and grain through the Kerch Bridge. Trsurkin criticizes occupation authorities for bad roads and queues at checkpoints. <\/p>\n

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Anatolii Trsurkin, former \u00abminister of transport of Crimea\u00bb.Photo: screenshot of video from Russian media \u00abArgumenty nedeli\u00bb [Arguments of Week]<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Tsurkin registered company \u00abVidan\u00bb in Moscow. He uses it to conduct illegal cargo transportation. He is the subcontractor of Russian \u00abState Grain Operator\u00bb illegally transporting stolen Ukrainian grain (see more details about Tsurkin\u2019s business on newly occupied territories of Ukraine in our investigation \u00ab<\/em>Grain Carrier<\/em><\/a>\u00bb<\/em>).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Collaborating activity of Tsurkin has not yet been properly evaluated by the Ukrainian law enforcement bodies. Perhaps, the problem is with definition of territorial jurisdiction as his transit business covers large territories from Crimea to newly occupied regions.<\/p>\n

Former Ukrainian military and police, \u00abpeople of Razvozhaev\u00bb etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Below is an overview of other participants of Russian \u00abprimaries\u00bb. They also deserve indictments for collaboration with Russian occupants, organization of illegal \u00abreferendum\u00bb and \u00abelections\u00bb on occupied territories.<\/p>\n

Vladyslav Viktorovych Ascheulov<\/strong> (born on 14.02.1982) is an active participation of the Russian occupation of Crimea. He is the \u00abdeputy head of the department of the ministry of property rights and land relations\u00bb of occupation administration of Zaporizhzhia region. The \u00abministry\u00bb is involved into \u00abnationalization\u00bb, i.e. expropriation of assets of Ukrainian citizens. Lawyer by education, Ascheulov started his professional career as police man in Simferopol. In 2006, he switched to entrepreneurial activity.<\/p>\n

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Vladyslav Ascheulov, collaborator. Photo: website of \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

He supported so-called \u00abCrimean Spring\u00bb. His application indicates that he received medals \u00abFor the protection of Crimea\u00bb; he is an assistant of \u00abmember of State Council of Crimea\u00bb Oleksandr Shuvalov (Aksyonov\u2019s quota) and co-founder of non-governmental organization \u00abSosluzhivets\u00bb [Fellow], involved into so-called patriotic training, i.e. propaganda and brainwash of Crimean youth. He actively raises funds for the Russian military.<\/p>\n

The acitivity of Yulia Vasilyevna Gubanova<\/strong> has been investigated<\/a> by the CJI. She came to Sevastopol from Russia with \u00abgovernor\u00bb Mikhail Razvozhaev. She managed intermediary company to launder budgetary resources in Sevastopol.<\/p>\n

Gubanova holds several positions in occupied Zaporizhzhia region: the head of occupation Yakymivka administration<\/a> and the \u00abminister\u00bb of construction, architecture and municipal economy. Before March 2023, she has managed the \u00abministry of transport\u00bb. In 2023, she received the status of participant of the Russian \u00abspecial military operation\u00bb and medals from Russian occupation authorities in Zaporizhzhia region and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.<\/p>\n

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Yulia Gubanova, acting head of occupation \u00abYakymivka military civil administration\u00bb. Photo: mintrans.zapgov.ru<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Sergey Viktorovich Konoplyov <\/strong>has been appointed as the head<\/a> of occupation \u00abmilitary civil administration\u00bb of Melitopol raion at the beginning of May 2023. He submitted application for \u00abprimaries\u00bb of \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb as the head of department of municipal economy and services. He worked in similar department in occupied Sevastopol.<\/p>\n

Konoplyov is the former army officer and policeman. He graduated from the Sevastopol military maritime engineering school, served in the Soviet army and before 1995 \u2013 in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It is very surprising that, being the Russian citizen, he served in the Ukrainian police and Ukrainian authorities in Sevastopol! In March 2023, he has been sent to occupied Melitopol.<\/p>\n

Petro Vasylyovych Zhygailov<\/strong> (born on 15.02.1963) has been appointed as Konoplyov\u2019s first deputy in April 2023. He is also running for elections in occupied Zaporizhzhia region.<\/p>\n

In Sevastopol, he worked as the head of transport department of LLC \u00abBlagoustroistvo goroda Sevastopolya\u00bb and director on general issues of \u00abState budgetary company \u00abSevastopolsky avtodor\u00bb.<\/p>\n

From May to December 2022, Zhygailov has been \u00abcoordinator of integration of new territories into the legal framework of the Russian Federation\u00bb on occupied territories of Luhansk region.<\/p>\n

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Sergei Konoplyov, Petro Zhygailov. Photo: screenshot of video of website \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Several Crimean entrepreneurs also would like to participate in illegal \u00abelections\u00bb on occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia region.<\/p>\n

Shevket Aiderovych Bekirov<\/strong> (date of birth is 31.08.1985) is the \u00abmember of Bakhchysarai city council\u00bb, member of \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb and private entrepreneur (beauty and hairdressing salons). He openly supports the Russian invasion and the Russian Armed Forces in social media.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00abSince the beginning of the \u00abspecial military operation\u00bb I has supported soldiers of the Russian army and deliver any assistance to our military men and their families. We will support soldiers of the Russian army in the future\u00bb, as notes Bekirov in the social media.<\/p>\n

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Shevket Bekirov (in the center) at the session of \u00abBakhchysarai City Council\u00bb, 23.02.2023. Photo: \u0412\u041a\u043e\u043d\u0442\u0430\u043a\u0442\u0435 \u0428\u0435\u0432\u043a\u0435\u0442 \u0411\u0435\u043a\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0432<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Oleksandr Yuriyovych Novak <\/strong>was born in Gorlivka on May 3, 1983. In accordance with his application, he has worked as policeman in Crimea for ten years. Then, he worked in Crimean organizations subordinated to \u00abthe Ministry of Fuel and Energy\u00bb. Since 2022, he has been regional representative of JSC \u00abPervaya Torgovaya Kompania\u00bb [First Trade Company], registered in Moscow and managed by Crimean resident Volodymyr Sagaidak (the latter is the former business partner of Crimean ex-minister of resorts Oleksandr Liev).<\/p>\n

Primary elections of \u00abUnited Russia\u00bb are illegal and violate International humanitarian legislation and Ukrainian legislation. Like forced Russian passportization, these \u00abelections\u00bb are called upon to legitimize the Russian occupation and illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.<\/strong><\/p>\n