The Rozdolne District Court in the occupied Crimea on Tuesday sentenced Ukrainian activist Volodymyr Balukh, charged with possession of ammunition, to three years and seven months in a low-security colony and a fine of 10,000 rubles, the Crimea.Reality website reported.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa said this ruling was fabricated and stressed that Ukraine will strengthen international pressure on Russia to free Balukh.

"The fabricated judgment of illegal courts. We express our protest. We will step up international pressure on the Russian Federation to release Balukh," Betsa wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, the prosecutor asked to put Balukh in low-security colony for five years and one month and fine him for 20,000 rubles.

As reported, Ukrainian farmer Balukh was arrested on December 8, 2016 in his house in the village of Serebrianka of Rozdolne district of Crimea temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. Russian authorities charged him with possession of ammunition.

Crimea's Rozdolne District Court sentenced Balukh to three years and seven months of imprisonment in a low-security penal colony and to a fine of 10,000 Russian rubles. Balukh's defense team said the case was fabricated, and his verdict would be appealed in courts of higher instances.

On December 1, Rozdolne District Court changed the measure of restraint for Balukh to two-month house arrest.

On December 6, new charges were brought against Balukh allegedly for disorganizing the activities of institutions ensuring isolation from society.