A former Ukrainian parliamentarian (Party of Regions), Oleh Kalashnikov, has been found dead from a gunshot injury in Kyiv, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said.
“The body of Kalashnikov, Oleh Ivanovych, was found at his house in Kyiv at 7.20 p.m. today. His death was caused by a gunshot,” the spokesperson said.
A team of police investigators led by Acting Interior Minister Vasyl Paskal are working at the scene.
“I personally took charge of resolving this crime. The motives and preliminary results of the inquiry will be announced later,” Paskal said.
A spokesperson for Kyiv police said that according to a report received by police, gunshots were heard on the stairs of a house on Pravda Prospect before a resident was found dead there.
It is believed there were two gunmen who were using firearms, the police told Interfax.
For his part, the Interior Minister’s advisor Anton Heraschenko wrote on Facebook: “A few hours ago the former people’s deputy, Oleh Kalashnikov, was shot dead at the doorstep of his apartment in the Vynohradar residential area. Kyiv police have launched a criminal inquiry under Article 115 of the Criminal Code (premeditated murder).”
He said police will be probing the following lines of inquiry: Kalashnikov’s political activity, including his involvement in organizing, financing and moderating the so-called Anti-Maidan movement at Mariyinsky Park; his business interests, including loans and bets; personal relationships; a murder with intent to commit a robbery; and other possible murder theories.
Kalashnikov, who was born 1962, had led a nationwide soldiers’ union since 1997. In 2006-2007 he was a member of the fifth-term parliament, representing the Party of Regions.
During the regime change in Ukraine, Kalashnikov was heavily involved in organizing the Anti-Maidan movement and coordinating its activists.
