You're reading: Zaporizhia Regional Council head suspected of organizing mass riots

 Zaporizhia Regional Prosecutor's Office has declared Zaporizhia Regional Council Chairman Viktor Mezheiko a suspect in the organization of mass disturbances accompanied by violence (Part 1, Article 294 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

 “The official is suspected of committing a criminal offense due to violent crackdown on peaceful protesters near Zaporizhia Regional State Administration in January this year,” reads a statement posted on the Web site of the Prosecutor General’s Office on April 15.

As reported, law enforcement officers detained 48 Euromaidan protesters in Zaporizhia late on January 26.

The investigation department of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry’s main office in Zaporizhia region opened proceedings against them under Part 1, Article 341 of the Criminal Code (attempted seizure of state or public buildings or structures) and Part 1, Article 294 of the Criminal Code (organization of mass disturbances).

Later, most of them were placed under house arrest.