20 April 2021, Tuesday, 18:36 149

Court Arrests Ex-Interior Minister Zakharchenko And His Deputy Ratushniak In Absentia For Organizing Delivery Of Russian Grenades To Ukraine

Таня Герасимова

The Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv has arrested former Interior Affairs Minister Vitalii Zakharchenko and his deputy Viktor Ratushniak in absentia for organizing the supply of Russian grenades to Ukraine in 2014.

This is indicated in a statement by the press service of the Office of Prosecutor General, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"With the participation of prosecutors from the Office of Prosecutor General, the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv selected for the former Minister of Interior Affairs of Ukraine and his deputy a preventive measure in the form of detention in criminal proceedings on the facts of abuse of power and official powers in the supply of grenades from the Russian Federation, which entailed grave consequences, and waste of funds of the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Ukraine on an especially large scale for their customs clearance (Part 3 of Article 365, Part 3 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," it was said.

It is noted that such a court decision gives the prosecution the right to start an extradition procedure against Zakharchenko and Ratushniak.

Also, prosecutors will apply to the court for permission to carry out a special pre-trial investigation (in absentia).

According to the investigation, in January 2014, in order to arm the personnel of employees of the interior affairs bodies, former officials of the ministry organized the illegal supply of 13,406 grenades from the Russian Federation to Ukraine.

It is indicated that Zakharchenko and Ratushniak also organized groundless customs clearance of imported grenades and payment of more than UAH 1.177 million of customs duties to the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Ukraine.

These grenades were not included in the list of special equipment in service with the Ministry of Interior Affairs and did not pass the tests of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine on the possibility of their use.

On February 18 and 19, 2014, Russian-made grenades imported in this way were used in the central part of Kyiv against protesters, as a result of which 86 people were injured.

According to the investigation, 17 people received grievous bodily harm, 23 people were moderately injured, and 45 people were slightly injured.

One person died.

Pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings is carried out by investigators of the State Bureau of Investigation.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on the application of sanctions against the former Minister of Interior Affairs Vitalii Zakharchenko, the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Yakymenko and eight other former top military leaders.

Больше новостей о: Vitalii Zakharchenko Viktor Ratushniak