The Roshen confectionery corporation says that four attacks on its Kyiv-based outlets, during the nights of January 3 through January 12, were planned acts of provocation.
Roshen’s outlet at 136-zh Peremohy Avenue in Kyiv was attacked on January 11,
Roshen stated in a press release.
“A group of four men came up to the store at 04:14 in the morning (the time
recorded on the video), one of them broke the window with a stone, the other had
a Molotov cocktail (preliminary conclusions by investigators), the third one was
recording everything on a video camera,” the release said.
One of the attackers was detained by police.
Similar attacks occurred on January 3 (a store at 14 Liatoshynsky Street), on
January 5 (14-a Marshal Tymoshenko Street), and on January 9 (11-b Sribnokilska
Street).
“All the attempts have been recorded by video surveillance,” the company
said.
Roshen says that it supports everyone’s right to express his or her civil
position, but “attacks and arson have nothing to do with an expression of
peaceful protest and demonstration of a civil stance.”
“Such action is neither a rally nor a peaceful protest, or a violent
[property] seizure – this is obviously a planned act of provocation,” Roshen
said.
As reported, Kyiv prosecutor Serhiy Yuldashev instructed prosecutors in
Kyiv’s Sviatoshynsky district to verify the information posted by
parliamentarian Ihor Lutsenko on his Facebook page about the alleged beating of
a juvenile by police officers near the Roshen store, and barring of his lawyer
from assisting the detainee.
The 17-year-old teenager is charged with committing a criminal offense under
Part 2 of Article 296 (disorderly conduct) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. A
court is to decide on pre-trial restrictions.
