A criminal case has been opened for abuse of office against the baton-wielding police who violently dispersed a EuroMaidan demonstration on Kyiv's Independence Square in the early hours of Nov. 30, Kyiv Police Chief Valeriy Koriak said. Koriak also took responsibility for ordering the police action.
The
police officers he commanded are accused of exceeding their powers when they
stormed some 400 peaceful protestors just after 4 a.m., he told a
briefing on Saturday. Other detailed information about the events that
transpired on the centrally located square have been included in the
national pretrial investigation register, he said.
“Information
on facts of hooliganism, resisting arrest, and also violations of Article 365 (of
the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which deals with abuse of office) have already
been included in the register,” he said.
Koriak
reiterated that both police and prosecutors would evaluate the police officers’
actions. He regrets the violent actions of the police, but said they were
caused by provocations on the part of protesters. He also said he will
resign if the Interior Ministry or General Prosecutor’s Office decide he was
responsible.
“I
really regret that this case happened. We have crossed out everything
positive,” he said at a briefing on Nov. 30.
He said
his boss, Interior Minister Valeriy Zakharchenko, or prosecutors, will discuss
and decide about his resignation. “I will not personally evaluate those
actions,” he said.
He said
violence on Independence Square was “situation-based” and that the
police had no intention to attack peaceful demonstrators. He also said that the
police would not go to St. Michael’s Square, where thousands of people have
gathered to protest against the morning events and against President Viktor
Yanukovych’s regime.
“There
is no need to get police to St. Michael’s Square. I understand the deep offense
of the people… We’re not planning any measures,” he said.
Kyiv Post editor Christopher J. Miller can be
reached at [email protected].
