Kyiv, August 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Front for Change public organization will seek the opening of another criminal case against Uzhgorod Mayor Serhiy Ratushniak - for hindering the organization's legal activity.
The organization’s press service reported that the head of the Front for Change’s executive committee, Andriy Ivanchuk, had submitted a respective statement to Prosecutor General Oleksandr Medvedko.
Ivanchuk said in his statement that on August 6, Ratushniak had committed a crime foreseen under Article 170 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (the deliberate hindering of the legal activity of professional unions, political parties, and non-governmental organizations).
The press service of the Front for Change earlier reported that Ratushniak was alleged to have beaten a girl campaigning for the Front for Change initiative.
According to the report, the incident took place near the Faculty of Chemistry at Uzhgorod National University, where two girls were distributing Front for Change campaign leaflets. According to the press service, Ratushniak, who happened to be nearby, started to insult the girls, then grabbed one of them by the throat and pushed her to the ground. After that, according to the report, the mayor destroyed the campaign tent and drove away.
As of August 13, a criminal case has been opened against Ratushniak under three articles – 296 (hooliganism), 365 (abuse of office), and 161 (the violation of racial and national equality of citizens).
