Malynivsky District Court of Odesa has found the so-called "governor of Kherson region" Volodymyr Saldo guilty of high treason under martial law, the press service of the court reports.

"Today, on November 08, 2023, the court passed a verdict, which finds Volodymyr Vasylyovych Saldo, the former head of the occupation ‘military-civil administration of Kherson region,’ now acting ‘governor of Kherson region’ (under Russian occupation) guilty. He is accused of committing criminal offenses under Part 2 of Article 111, Part 5 of Article 111-1, Part 1 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason under martial law, collaboration, justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants)," the press service of the court said on its official website on Wednesday.

It is reported that the trial took place in a special judicial proceeding in absentia (in the absence of the accused). During the court arguments, the prosecution asked to find Saldo guilty and assign him 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. "In turn, the defender of Saldo asked to pass an acquittal against the accused," the report says.

"Having assessed the evidence presented by the parties to the criminal proceedings, the court concluded that the citizen was guilty of committing a criminal offense and sentenced him to a total of 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property with deprivation of the right to hold positions related to organizational, administrative and economic powers at enterprises, institutions and organizations of all forms of ownership for a period of 15 years," the court said.