IN BRIEF: Two residents of Trans-Baikal detained for preparing election provocations

IN BRIEF: Two residents of Trans-Baikal detained for preparing election provocations Investigative and operational activities are underway to establish all circumstances© Russian Federal Security Service/TASS, archiveMOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained two residents of the Trans-Baikal Region, who, acting on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence agencies, were preparing provocations during the recent parliamentary elections, the FSB said. TASS has compiled the key details available so far. Detention - The Federal Security Service in the Trans-Baikal Region thwarted the illegal activities of two Russian citizens who, acting on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence agencies, were involved in preparing a series of provocations aimed at destabilizing the social and political situation in the region during the State Duma elections. - FSB officers detained the suspects on the eve of the Single Voting Day during operational and investigative measures. On suspects - One of the suspects is a woman who was a member of a precinct election commission. - It has been established that a member of the Freedom of Russia Legion terrorist organization, controlled by the Ukrainian Security Service and outlawed in Russia, instructed a local woman to join one of the region’s precinct election commissions, the FSB said. - The woman’s handler tasked her with "obtaining some ballots and promotional materials, collecting and providing information on preparations for the vote by political parties and candidates, as well as rigging the election results." - The second detainee is a resident of the city of Krasnokamensk. - According to the FSB, he was recruited by the Ukrainian Security Service to gather information on the election campaign and photograph regional government buildings and the recruitment office. - In addition, he was ordered to set fire to the city office of one of the political parties ahead of the active phase of the vote, using an improvised incendiary device, the FSB added. Confessions - The woman confessed to cooperating with the Ukrainian intelligence service, as seen in a video released by the FSB. - According to her, while browsing various websites in search of an opportunity to earn some money, she was contacted by a man who suggested that she assist him. - The woman said that he first asked what festive events were taking place in the city and whether locals were gathering and sending humanitarian aid to the special military operation zone. - The suspect said she had provided him with the requested information. - According to her, the man also asked her to join a local election commission, which she did. - The suspect added that her handler had asked her to send photos of a polling station and ballots and to monitor the voting process and possible attempts to rig the election. - She never received any money from him. - The second suspect has also confessed. - He said he had been looking for a job when a person asked him to take photos of recruitment offices and administration buildings. - According to the man, the handler later promised him "good money" for setting fire to the local office of a political party. Investigation - Investigative and operational activities are underway to establish all circumstances of the illegal activities of the perpetrators, as well as their possible contacts. 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