The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO) has notified the former head of the public safety unit of the Main Department of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine in Kyiv that he was suspected of being involved in arranging the use of special equipment and violence by Berkut riot police and interior troops against rally participants and journalists in Bankova Street on December 1, 2013.
“The Special Investigations Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has notified former head of the public safety unit of the Main Department of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine in Kyiv that he is suspected of deliberately issuing an illegal order to Berkut riot police and Interior Ministry troops to use special equipment and physical violence against participants of the rally and journalists on Bankova Street on December 1, 2013. The violence caused physical injuries to more than 29 protesters and 22 media representatives and brought heavy consequences according to Part 4 of Article 41, Part 3 of Article 365, Part 1 of Article 171, Part 4 of Article 41, Article 340 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” reads a statement made by the press service of the PGO on Wednesday.
“The court placed the suspect under home arrest,” the PGO said.
The statement reads that five government and law enforcement officials as well as five law enforcers, who allegedly took illegal actions, have been notified of being suspects in the case. Indictments against three people have been sent to court and six suspects have been put on a wanted list.
The pre-trial investigation to identify other organizers and executors of the crime continues.
