Separatism will be punished - Security Service

UKRINFORM's photo

Separatist organizations in Ukraine do not pose a serious threat to the national security, acting chief of the security service Valentyn Nalyvaichenko told the securities' board meeting in Donetsk Thursday.

Those organizations are scanty and were created artificially, being financed from abroad, he says. "We know what they do, and we will persecute them according to law," Nalyvaichenko emphasized. He noted that the security service is investigating a number of criminal cases involving separatist manifestations and infringements of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

He reminded that criminal proceedings had been instituted against the so-called European Congress of Rusyns in Zakarpattia region. Among other separatist organizations taken to justice Nalyvaichenko also listed Donetsk Republic in Donbas and Sevastopol - Crimea - Russia in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

He pointed out the importance of the Ukrainian court making assessment of those activities, as was the case with Donetsk Republic that was forbidden by court.

"We do not talk about reprisals against people. We imply a clear-cut court ban on activity of those organizations in Ukraine," Nalyvaichenko said.

Investigation of criminal proceedings against Sevastopol - Crimea - Russia is continuing, he said.

UKRINFORM