Ukrainian National Charged with Promoting Russian Propaganda and Inciting Constitutional Overthrow

Ukrainian authorities have charged an employee of Russia’s Institute of CIS Countries in absentia for promoting Russian state ideology and advocating for violent overthrow of Ukraine’s constitutional order, the Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.

The 56-year-old Ukrainian citizen, whose name was not released in the official statement, faces multiple serious charges including public calls for violent changes to Ukraine’s constitutional order, encroachment on territorial integrity, and collaboration with an aggressor state under various articles of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

“Under the procedural leadership of the Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor’s Office, a Ukrainian citizen, an employee of the Russian ‘Institute of CIS Countries’, has been notified in absentia of suspicion,” prosecutors said in their statement, citing violations of Part 2 of Article 109, Parts 1-2 of Article 110, and Part 6 of Article 111-1 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

According to investigators, the suspect is a former Kyiv resident who worked for years as a leading employee at the Institute of CIS Countries, a Russian non-governmental organization widely recognized for promoting Kremlin interests across post-Soviet states. The institute has long been viewed by security analysts as a soft power instrument for extending Russian influence in what Moscow considers its “near abroad.”

Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the suspect reportedly relocated to Russia, where authorities say he began intensifying his propaganda activities supporting Russian state ideology. Ukrainian officials note he has become a regular contributor to the institute’s website and frequently appears in Russian media outlets.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Vinnytsia region is conducting the pre-trial investigation. Authorities claim the suspect’s messaging has consistently supported Vladimir Putin’s policies while deliberately misrepresenting Ukraine’s socio-political landscape.

This case highlights Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to counter Russian information warfare and prosecute those it views as collaborating with Moscow’s aggression. Since 2014, and especially following the full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has strengthened its legal framework against actions deemed supportive of Russian territorial claims or military action.

The Institute of CIS Countries, established in 1996, operates under the leadership of Konstantin Zatulin, a Russian politician known for advocating assertive policies toward former Soviet republics. The organization has been controversial in Ukraine and other post-Soviet states for what critics describe as its role in promoting narratives that undermine these countries’ sovereignty.

In-absentia charges have become increasingly common in Ukraine’s legal response to individuals who have fled to Russia while allegedly supporting its war efforts or territorial claims. Such charges allow Ukrainian authorities to proceed with legal cases even when suspects are beyond their immediate reach.

If convicted on all counts, the suspect could face substantial prison time under Ukrainian law. The charges relating to collaboration with an aggressor state were added to Ukraine’s Criminal Code after Russia’s full-scale invasion and carry particularly severe penalties.

The Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor’s Office indicated the investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to gather evidence against the suspect. Ukrainian officials have not specified whether they will seek the individual’s extradition, which would be unlikely given current relations between Ukraine and Russia.