All five suspects in the attack on activist and advisor to the mayor of Kherson Kateryna Gandziuk have confessed their guilt and struck a plea arrangement with the prosecutor. Dnipropetrovsk region’s Pokrovsky district court could pass sentence on the men on June 6, the U.S.-government funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty media outlet has said.
According to the indictment, Serhiy Torbin involved Mykyta Hrabchuk, Volodymr Vasianovych, Vyacheslav Vyshnevsky and Viktor Horbunov in the attack on Gandziuk. A hirer of a contract killer who ordered the attack remains unknown.
All five suspects told judge Olena Chorna that they admit their guilt and confirmed the assent to the plea deal with prosecutors. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 6.
Prosecutors are asking the judge to sentence Torbin to six years and six months in prison, Hrabchuk – six years, Vyshnevsky and Vasianovych – four years and Horbunov – three years.
As reported, on July 31, 2018, assailants doused Gandziuk with sulphuric acid near her home in Kherson. She succumbed to her injuries on November 4, 2018.
