Lviv – A member of the Lviv unit of the elite Berkut riot police force has resigned.
He told this to reporters after leaving the Berkut battalion in Lviv. The man introduced himself as Yaroslav, but declined to disclose his surname or title, saying only that he has served in Berkut for more than 20 years.
He said that the reason for such a step was the actions of Interior Ministry officers in related to detained protesters in Kyiv, especially the video with a man who was stripped naked and humiliated.
“Especially after a man, like Jesus Christ, was stripped, tortured and was given a cross to bear. But here, in peacetime, a man is stripped, beaten and given a spade… I just feel ashamed to look in peoples’ eyes when such actions against the people are happening. I just want to apologize for those guys… They cannot be returned, but they died for the freedom of Ukraine in peacetime,” he said.
When asked by reporters if he was afraid because of his decision, Yaroslav said that he “cannot be afraid.”
“I’m an athlete, I’ll cope,” he said.
According to Yaroslav, he was not the only one who resigned, but this report has not yet been confirmed. Meanwhile, the media reported that at least five Berkut officers had resigned.
