Kyiv court frees former UNA-UNSO leader and deputy-elect from pre-trial detention
UNA‑UNSO political party who was recently elected to parliament, was released from jail April 12.
Kyiv’s Holosyvsky District Court freed Shkyl after considering a petition from his lawyers.
Shkyl had been in remand person since March 2001. He and 15 members of UNA‑UNSO were arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on suspicion of organizing clashes between police and anti‑presidential opposition groups in Kyiv on March 9, 2001.
Prosecutors did not object to his release.
The court rejected a request by Shkyl’s lawyers to release the other jailed UNA‑UNSO members.
Those present greeted Shkyl’s release order with applause.
After the court’s decision was announced, the former UNA‑UNSO leader hugged fellow party members who sat with him in the dock, and walked out from behind bars.
“I await all of you on the outside,” Shkyl said.
He also hugged his lawyers, parliamentary deputy‑elect Stepan Khmara and his wife Zoryana, and threw a UNA‑UNSO flag over his shoulder.
Afterward, Shkyl and those who were arrested sang the UNA‑UNSO hymn and gave a short news conference, during which he announced that he will seek the release of all of his fellow party members.
Shkyl left the court with Yulia Tymoshenko and members of her Fatherland party.
The remaining UNA‑UNSO detainees were returned to prison to await their next court hearing, scheduled for April 23.
