KIEV, April 16 (RAPSI) - The Luhansk Region Prosecutor’s Office in Ukraine has initiated legal proceedings against presidential candidate Oleh Tsarev whose public speeches were considered “actions promoting changes within the national borders,” the prosecutor’s press service reported Wednesday.

Last Tuesday, the Kiev Prosecutor’s Office opened a similar case against Tsarev who was charged with “violation of national territorial integrity and immunity of Ukraine.”

Under the Ukrainian Criminal Code, the crime is punishable by up to 12 years in prison. In April, the Verkhovna Rada toughened criminal liability for separatism; however, the bill passed by the Ukrainian parliament must first be signed by Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov before it officially becomes law.

On Tuesday evening radical groups in Kiev assaulted presidential candidate Tsarev who was locked along with his electoral team inside the ICTV network building in Kiev. The politician was reported to be in serious condition. Later, the politician said that he felt that he had some strength and had no intention of withdrawing from the election race.