Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said he does not intend to resign in connection with the tragedy in the village of Knyazhychi in Kyiv region, as a result of which five law enforcement officers were killed.
“They have been talking about my resignation for a long time […] I’m going to draw conclusions and perform my duties. If there are grounds for my resignation – it will certainly ever happen – I’ll do it. Now I intend to draw conclusions and move forward,” the minister said, answering the journalists’ question in Kyiv on Dec. 15 whether he intended to resign.
As reported, on Dec. 4, 2016 at 4:00 am in the village of Knyazhychi, Brovary district, Kyiv region employees of Special Weapons and Tactics police (KORD) of Ukrainian National Police, while performing their duties, used automatic weapons against the staff of Brovary Police Department of the Main Guard Police Department, which, together with two officers of the Main Department of operational service of the National Police in Kyiv, who were also performing their duties, used automatic weapons in response. Five law-enforcement officers were killed. An official investigation into the shooting in the village of Knyazhychi was started.
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko said on Dec. 6 that the Prosecutor General’s Office investigators see in the actions of those who coordinated the operation with law enforcement agencies in Knyazhychi of Kyiv region the signs of criminal negligence, which led to very serious consequences. According to Lutsenko, the order to forward employees of Special Weapons and Tactics police (KORD) of Ukrainian National Police was wrong.
