Ex-commander of "Berkut" Patseliak, who dispersed Maidan in 2014, has had two passports of Russian Federation for more than 20 years, - mass media
The former commander of Lviv "Berkut" Rostyslav Patseliak was deprived of Ukrainian citizenship because for more than 20 years he has had two passports of the Russian Federation: domestic and foreign, which he has not renounced. Currently, Patseliak is an active serviceman in the reserve of the Russian Federation.
As Censor.NET writes, this was reported by Watchers with reference to data announced in an open court session and open Russian databases, as well as to its own sources.
Currently, Rostyslav Patseliak is under investigation in the case of opposing the protests on the Maidan on February 18, 2014. He is charged with exceeding official powers, obstructing peaceful rallies, obstructing journalistic activities, and violence against public and public figures.
The Lviv "Berkut" battalion, under the command of a former commander, took part in one of the most violent crackdowns on protests on the Maidan in 2014, together with the Kharkiv "Berkut" - and was not inferior to him in the brutality of the actions. Then on this day, as a result of the actions of law enforcement units and criminal aunts, at least 23 protesters were killed.
On September 13, during the consideration of the motion to extend Patselyak's detention in the Pechersk Court, the prosecutor in the case submitted to the court the decision of the State Migration Service of Ukraine to revoke his Ukrainian citizenship. According to the information announced in court, this decision was made the day before, September 12.
As noted, the reason for the deprivation of citizenship was the fact that for more than 20 years Pacelyak had valid Russian passports (domestic and foreign), which he did not give up.
He received a Russian passport on April 26, 2002. The reason for receiving it was indicated: exchange of the USSR passport. On January 4, 2003, Pacelyak also received a foreign passport of the Russian Federation. As Watchers sources noted, until 2003, the ex-commander studied and worked in the internal affairs system of Russia, and only then moved to Ukraine,
He received a Ukrainian passport in September 2003. And in the same year, he was enrolled in the service of law enforcement agencies in Ukraine. Before that, Pacelyak served in the Russian militia.
Pacelyak is a Russian reservist and has the special rank of lieutenant of justice.
The publication checked Patselyak's Russian passport data on the website of the Russian Tax Service. As it turned out, a person with the same name and date of birth as the ex-commander really received a passport of a citizen of Russia and has a valid tax number.
At the beginning of the trial, the court sent Patseliak under arrest. However, he was released from custody in 2015 and has been on personal recognizance ever since.
On March 22, 2023, the State Bureau of Investigation announced a new suspicion against Rostyslav Patseliak in connection with the events of February 18, 2014, on Instytutska Street and Kryposny Lane. Then charges were added for committing a terrorist act, organizing to cause grievous bodily harm, as well as for committing intentional murders and attempted murders of two or more protest participants.
Patseliak is currently in custody by court order.
