The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), by instituting criminal proceedings in relation to Crimean deputies allegedly due to preparations for encroachment on Ukraine's territorial integrity, is engaged in a "witch hunt" in Crimea, Party of Regions MP Vadym Kolesnichenko has said.

"Returning to the same absurd situation about 'Crimean pseudo-separatism,' as a result we have that in fact that SBU has recently been working purposefully against half of the country. Will they assume responsibility for the training of thousands of fighters [from the Maidan] and human deaths from their hands? The country is on the brink of collapse and a split, but SBU is not just innocently watching this picture from the side, but is also engaged in a 'witch hunt' in Crimea! Inhumanity or incompetence?! Or maybe just corruption?!" Kolesnichenko said in a statement released on Tuesday .

He said that "the decision to initiate a criminal case on the conversation of Crimean deputies is extremely inappropriate."

He said that it was not a decision of Crimean deputies and was not secured in any written agreement, contract or any other document.

"An elementary topic in the discussion! I'm not talking about western Ukrainian councils that are often given to the adoption of unconstitutional decisions. This situation again resembles the fact that SBU is continuing to work against the current authorities, against the incumbent president, with the goal of the final overthrow of the constitutional order. I remember that such a balance of things has begun in our country since the era of [former SBU Chief Valentyn] Nalyvaichenko, who worked directly for the United States – are 'Nalyvaichenko's staff' continuing to steer the situation and fight with their own citizens, for the sake of bringing the will of citizens from southeastern Ukraine to please opportunistic political interests?" Kolesnichenko said.

Due to the current situation the MP asked the SBU chief "to reconsider the decision to institute criminal proceedings with respect to Crimean parliamentarians, identify the guilty employees of the Security Service of Ukraine given the above facts of deputy requests, and to dismiss and bring them to account."