The head of Ingushetia was sentenced in absentia to eight years in Ukraine.

Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov is accused of "financing actions aimed at changing the borders of the territory or state border of Ukraine."

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," at the end of September, Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov reported for the first time on the mass organized deployment of fighters from Ingushetia to the war zone in Ukraine. This is the first group of the international "Erzi" battalion, created in August at the initiative of Putin's plenipotentiary representative to the North Caucasus, Yuri Chaika.

A Ukrainian court sentenced Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, the head of Ingushetia, in absentia to eight years in prison. The press service of the country's Prosecutor General's Office reported this, according to the TASS news agency.

"During a public indictment by the Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor's Office, the court sentenced the head of the Republic of Ingushetia in absentia to eight years in prison with confiscation of property," the agency said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

The head of the Russian region is accused of "financing actions aimed at changing the borders of the territory or state border of Ukraine."

The prosecutor's office has proven that he systematically directed funds and resources to support Russian troops. "In particular: payments of 'bonuses' to citizens who signed contracts with the Russian Federation, and provision of military personnel with medicine, equipment, and transportation," the department's statement read.

By 6:30 PM Moscow time, the head of Ingushetia had not commented on the statement from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office.

Previously, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that in February 2023, eight heads of southern Russian regions, including the head of Ingushetia, were subject to US sanctions. "The duties of governors of the Russian Federation include conscripting citizens for the in Ukraine," the statement, published on the US State Department website, stated.