PGO charges Kyiv police chief ex-deputy with organizing crackdown on Automaidan activists

The Prosecutor General's Office brings in an indictment against ex-deputy chief of Kyiv’s Main Police Directorate.

As reported by Censor.NET citing the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office, the law enforcer is charged with orchestrating, directing and coordinating the detention of Automaidan activists in January 2014.

"Based on the collected evidence, the indictment was served to ex-deputy chief of Kyiv's Main Police Directorate," the statement reads.

The actions of the suspect constitute elements of crimes punished by part 3 of article 27, part 2 of article 28, part 3 of article 365 (excessive use of force entailing grave consequences committed by a group of persons through abuse of power) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigators established that the suspect organized provocations involving his subordinate operatives and civilians near the city hospital No. 17 on Shchorsa Street in Kyiv on the night of Jan. 23, 2014.

Eventually, Kyiv Berkut regiment members illegally detained eight activists of Automaidan. The law enforcers used force against the activists who received injuries of varying severity while their cars were deliberately damaged.

The pre-trial detention petition against the suspect was submitted to the court. The PGO noted that 16 law enforcers were held liable under this criminal case, including 13 members of Berkut riot police regiment, the regiment commander, the company commander, and four civilians.

The court now hears indictments of involvement in the said crimes brought against the commander of the rapid response company of Berkut riot police and five his subordinates.