The commanders of the special police units "Berkut" of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Lviv, Kharkiv regions and the city of Sevastopol, as well as the assistant chief of staff of the Lviv "Berkut", were informed of suspicions regarding the dispersal of protesters in the night of February 19, 2014. That night, their actions led to the deaths of 12 protesters. This was reported by the press service of the Office of the Prosecutor General, reports UNN.
Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General, the commanders of the special police units "Berkut" of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Lviv, Kharkiv regions and the city of Sevastopol, as well as the assistant chief of staff of the Lviv "Berkut", were informed of suspicions regarding the circumstances of the organization of the illegal obstruction of protest actions in the night of February 18 to 19, 2014 in the central part of Kyiv
According to the investigation, on the night of February 19, 2014, carrying out the criminal order of the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine to disperse the protesters, Berkut officers surrounded the Maidan from the side of Evropeiska Square and Instytutska Street and stormed the protesters using special equipment - armored personnel carriers, Tornado water cannons and military searchlights. They also used Fort-500 firearms with lead shot cartridges and grenades brought from the Russian Federation.
Such actions of the suspects led to the murders of 12 protesters, attempted murders - 8, infliction of grievous bodily harm - 16, medium severity - 37, light - 78, as well as other serious consequences
The issue of applying preventive measures against the former law enforcement officers is currently being resolved.
The commanders of the units are charged with the organization by a group of persons of illegal obstruction of the holding of assemblies, rallies, street marches and demonstrations; abuse of authority and official powers; infliction of intentional grievous bodily harm, as well as the organization of intentional murders and completed attempts at intentional murders. The assistant chief of staff of the Lviv "Berkut" is charged with complicity in the commission of these crimes.
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