The court for the second time found Kherson resident Serhiy Zakharov guilty, this time of organizing and conducting an illegal referendum during the temporary occupation of the city.
This is stated in the court’s verdict.
The investigation established that in August 2022 Zakharov voluntarily agreed to head precinct election commission No. 304, created by the occupying authorities of the Russian Federation. It operated in the Dniprovsky district of Kherson.
Thus, Zakharov organized the commission’s work, formed its composition, and ensured the voting was carried out, in particular through yard-to-yard and apartment-to-apartment canvassing of residents. He also supervised the process of issuing illegal ballots and counting votes.
Witnesses in court confirmed the defendant’s participation in organizing the voting. In particular, one of them said that Zakharov presented himself as the director of an educational institution and headed the election commission. Another witness noted that he was the one who organized the voting process, gave instructions, and interacted with Russian military personnel.
Also, according to witnesses, Russian military were stationed in the school, and the voting took place under their control.
The court qualified his actions under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 5 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — participation in the organization and conduct of an illegal referendum by prior conspiracy of a group of persons.
Serhiy Zakharov was sentenced in absentia to 12 years of imprisonment. In addition, the convicted person was forbidden to hold positions in government bodies and in the field of education, as well as to participate in organizing electoral processes for a term of 15 years.
Recall that in 2025 the court found Serhiy Zakharov guilty of collaborationist activity and sentenced him in absentia to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of all property.
In May 2023 he was charged with organizing an illegal referendum in Kherson.