The Committee of Voters of Ukraine appealed to the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea with a requirement to prosecute and institute criminal proceedings against 10 thousand members of the so-called election commissions organizing the presidential election in the territory of the annexed peninsula.

CVU believes that local residents of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea should refrain from participating in the organization of illegal election processes in the Crimea, or be held liable in accordance with Ukrainian legislation.

According to the CVU, the actions of those who contribute to the organization of the electoral process on the territory of the Crimea and the city of Sevastopol contain signs of high treason.

In particular, this applies to members of so-called election commissions, which ensure the organization and conduct of the presidential elections on March 18, 2018. Their actions fall under Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason), which is punishable by imprisonment for a term of twelve to fifteen years.

"We believe that every resident of the Crimea on the eve of voting on the 18 March should make a choice regarding cooperation with the Russian authorities. Persons who will be involved in the election as members of commissions should be liable in accordance with Ukrainian laws. One of the motivations for participation in organizing elections may be significant financial rewards: about 2500 UAH for participation in activities of the PECs. However, such persons should understand that because of such actions they may be subject to significant sanctions: from the prohibition to visit regions under the control of Ukraine and the impossibility of obtaining a biometric passport for criminal liability under an article on state treason ", - said the head of the CVU Oleksiy Koshel.

In the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, 27 territorial election commissions, 1164 precinct election commissions, 4 territorial election commissions and 181 precinct election commissions were illegally formed.

Some information about the persons organizing the presidential elections in Crimea is available on the Internet at the websites of the respective election commissions. For example, on the web-page of the so-called election commission of the Republic of Crimea (https://goo.gl/vfbFGU) and the Sevastopol City Election Commission (https://goo.gl/StmgmG).

In general, it is about 10 thousand residents of the annexed Crimea that can be involved in organization of the electoral process.