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Probes launched into obstruction of RF State Duma election by Ukrainian radicals

The Head office of the Investigative Committee has opened two criminal investigations into crimes under part 2 of Article 360 (attack on institutions under international protection) and Part 2, items “a” and “c” of Article 141 and Article 329 of the RF Penal Code (obstructing of the exercise of electoral rights committed by a group of persons by previous concert and outrages upon the state flat of the Russian Federation) after Ukrainian radicals tried to disrupt the Russian State Duma election.

According to investigators, on the night of 17 September 2016, an organized group of people participating in the campaign protesting against the Russian State Duma election to take place in Ukraine arrived to the Russian Embassy in Kiev. There were representatives of right radical NGOs and associations. The assailants threw smoke shells and fired a battery of fireworks at the main building of the Embassy damaging the property of the Russian Federation.

On the Election Day, 18 September 2016, representatives of the same right radical Ukrainian NGOs again arrived to the Russian Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kiev. The radicals blocked the entrance preventing Russian citizens who wished to vote from going inside the Embassy. Additionally, they publicly burnt the Russian flag they had with them.

The investigators believe that the crimes were committed by the radicals to make the international relationship between Russia and Ukraine more complicated.

At present investigative operations are underway to find out all the details of the crimes.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                              V.I. Markin