Today the Basmanny District Court of Moscow has considered and granted the request of the Investigative Committee to remand Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov in custody in absentia as a pretrial restraint. Soon the Investigative Committee will issue necessary commissions to corresponding law enforcement bodies to execute the decision.
Earlier the Investigative Committee issued a warrant accusing Avakov of crimes under part 3 of article 33, paragraphs “a”, “b”, “f”, “g”, “k” of part 2 of article 105, part 3 of article 33, part 1 of article 356, part 3 of article 33, part 3 of article 144, part 3 of article 33, paragraph “a” of part 3 of article 126 of the RF Criminal Code (murder; use of prohibited means and methods of warfare; impeding professional activity of journalists; abduction).
At the moment the investigation procedures are ongoing. The Investigative Committee is interrogating those who have been forced to leave Ukraine during the period since April 14, 2014 due to the military operations taking place there. In particular cases those having arrived to Russia from Ukraine earlier are questioned, if their close relatives live in the conflict zone. These interrogations are conducted within the framework of the criminal case opened under part 1 of article 356 of the RF Criminal Code on use of prohibited means and methods of warfare by the military men of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, armed members of the National Guard of Ukraine and gunmen of the Right Sector. At the moment 6 thousand people have been interrogated, about 3 thousand of them were recognized as victims. Along with other evidence, the statements of witnesses and victims confirm the investigators’ version on Avakov, as well as the military men of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, armed members of the National Guard of Ukraine and gunmen of the Right Sector being involved in the mentioned crimes.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
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