Kyiv, February 16, 2015 – The cases of mass killings of Euromadan protesters remain the biggest priority for the Prosecutor General Office. New information about the perpetrators and organizers who should bear criminal responsibility for these actions will be released in the next few days. Viktor Shokin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, told this during the press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “These cases are under my personal control. You will hear a lot more about the February events of the Revolution of Dignity soon,” Mr. Shokin said.
Mr. Shokin told about a series of changes in his office. He fired Svyatoslav Lahanyak who was responsible for investigating crimes committed during Euromaidan, and Mykola Frontovsky, prosecutor of the Donetsk region, who was removed according to the lustration law. Vitaliy Kasko and David Sakvarelidze became Shokin’s new deputies responsible for European integration, particularly for preserving EU sanctions against Ukrainian officials who served the political regime of Viktor Yanukovych.
Vikor Shokin announced the creation of a new department responsible for cooperation with MPs. “This may increase our efficiency in terms of cooperating with Ukrainian lawmakers,” Mr. Shokin said.
He also said that persons supporting separatism will be brought to justice, their social status notwithstanding. On February 14, Oleksandr Yefremov, former leader of the Party of Regions, was arrested under suspicion of power abuse and forgery. Yefremov is currently investigated whether he has funded separatism. The trial on Yefremov’s case is scheduled for February 16.
Furthermore, Prosecutor General Office provided materials regarding activities of Oleksandr Popov, former chairman of Kyiv State City Administration, to the court. While answering on questions of the media about criminal persecution of the former Deputy Prosecutor General Renat Kuzmin, Mr. Shokin responded that the criminal proceedings are ongoing; however, more information will be published soon.
Apart from political crimes, the Prosecutor General Office research corrupt schemes at state enterprises. Prosecutors are investigating embezzlement of funds in the “Antonov” State Company. According to Shokin, Dmytro Kiva, former chief of the enterprise, is not a suspect in this crime yet.
Viktor Shokin stressed that he is going to finish the case of a murdered journalist Georgiy Gongadze. “I personally worked on this case in 2008. We found three perpetrators and arrested Oleksiy Pukach back then. I am confident that the new team will find not only those who committed this crime, but also those who have organized it as well,” the Prosecutor General assured.
