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The Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case against people from radical nationalist armed groups Right Sector, Maidan Selfdefense, fans of Ukrainian FCs and officials of the Ministry of Interior and Security Service of Ukraine over crimes under part 3 of article 30, part 1 of article 105, paragraph “h” of part 2 of article 117 of the RF Penal Code (attempted murder, tortures).

On 2 May 2014, members of radical Right Sector, Maidan Selfdefense and fans of Ukrainian FCs provoked mass riots involving violence, pogroms, arsons and destruction in the town of Odessa. A Russian citizen, who at the time was in the center of the town, decided to hide in a safe place and headed for the Trade Union building on Kulikovo Pole square. There were other civilians inside waiting for the disturbances. In the evening Right Sector, Maidan Selfdefense, fans of Ukrainian FCs and others started to throw stones and Molotov cocktails to the Trade Union building chanting anti-Russian and nationalistic slogans.

Over 35 civilians died of carbon monoxide inhalation, burns, injuries received from falling from heights and gunshot wounds. The Russian man poisoned by combustion gases ran out from the building, but was detained by Odessa police and taken to a police station. There police officers beat him up and then questioned throughout night in a city police department using psychological and physical violence because he was Russian. To recognize him a victim and find those who set the Trade Union building on fire was out of question, let alone providing any medical aid. The next day the man was taken to a resuscitation department, when his condition had become much worse due to carbon monoxide inhalation. Despite his poor health, officers of Ukrainian National Security kept interrogating him for several days threatening with physical violence and denying any medical help. All reports were written only in Ukrainian language, which the Russian did not speak. He had no translator. Despite the man’s urgent requests to meet with representatives of the Russian consulate, he got to meet them only on 31 July, that is almost three months after the man had been detained. Only then was he able to pass an application to Russian law enforcement bodies, having had no hope in impartial inquiry conducted by Security Service or Ministry of Interior of Ukraine.

It should be noted that the Russia’s Investigative Committee immediately informed Ukrainian embassy, when Nadezhda Savchenko was detained, and an official of the consular department was admitted to her within 10 days. The accused can read reports in Ukrainian language.

I should underline cardinal differences of these two situations where Savchenko is charged with obvious felonies committed against Russian citizens while the Russian man detained in Odessa was the victim of crimes committed first by radical members of nationalistic armed groups and them law enforcement officials.

The Investigative Committee is going to identify all the persons involved in those crimes and bring them to justice in accordance with current laws.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                    V.I. Markin