You're reading: Security Service of Ukraine detains ‘self-proclaimed governor’ of Donetsk region Gubarev

The "self-proclaimed governor" of Donetsk region Pavel Gubarev has been detained in Donetsk, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has reported.

“Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), with the
assistance of Alpha [special police], have detained Gubarev in his
apartment in Donetsk under a court ruling,” the SBU’s press center told
Interfax-Ukraine.

According to SBU, Gubarev was charged with committing crimes under
Part 2, Article 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and
inviolability of Ukraine), Part 1, Article 109 (actions aimed at the
forcible change or overthrow of the constitutional order, or the seizure
of state power) and Article 341 (seizure of state or public buildings
or structures) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As reported, pro-Russian protesters seized several times the building
of Donetsk Regional State Administration under the leadership of
Gubarev. During one of the seizures Gubarev put forward a number of
demands to the local authorities, including the holding of a referendum
on the status of the region.

In this regard, law enforcement agencies in Donetsk region are
investigating a case on the seizure and attempts to seize the regional
administration building, and these actions have been qualified as an
attempt to change the constitutional order and state power.