Kyiv city manager Oleksandr Popov and assistant national security chief Volodymyr Sivkovych were suspended indefinitely by President Viktor Yanukovych on Dec. 14, the head of state’s official website states.
They were removed from duties on suspicion of “violating
the constitutional rights of citizens who were on Independence Square on Nov.
30,” the statement reads,
referring to the early morning violent and forceful police breakup of the area
in which dozens of peaceful demonstrators, mostly students, were sent to the
hospital.
The presidential suspension was done at the request of the general prosecutor.
General Prosecutor Viktor
Pshonka also plans to press charges against Kyiv police chief Valeriy Koryak
and his deputy Petro Fedchuk for abuse of power connected to the Nov. 30 police
clearing of Independence Square, Radio Svoboda
reports, citing the general prosecutor.
He will recommend that the court place them under house arrest, said Radio Svoboda.
“The president notes that
no state officials can be exceptions for being held liable for committing
illegal acts,” reads the presidential statement.
Bringing those responsible
for the Nov. 30 violent police raid to justice has been a key demand of
EuroMaidan leaders.
However, it is not clear what
role Koryak played on the fateful day and whether he gave or was following orders
to use excessive police force on Nov. 30 amid reports that riot police units
were transported to Kyiv from other regions in Ukraine. In addition, Popov in his capacity could
only request, not give police orders, that protesters be removed from the square.
Kyiv Post editor Mark Rachkevych can be reached [email protected].
