Sosnovsky District Court of Cherkasy found the former commander of the Berkut special police battalion at the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Luhansk region guilty of obstructing the work of journalists and using special equipment, the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office reports.
“During the trial, the Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor’s Office proved that the accused, being on Jan. 27, 2014 at Soborna Square in Cherkasy, ordered his subordinate employees to use special equipment and detain peaceful protesters, did not ensure the personal integrity of the detained persons, and also obstructed the lawful professional activities of journalists,” the message said.
As a result of a special court proceeding, the ex-Berkut officer was sentenced to four years in prison with a deprivation of the right to hold positions in law enforcement agencies for a period of three years.
According to law enforcement officials, the attacker is hiding in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region and occupies a leading position in the so-called “Ministry of Internal Affairs” in parts of Luhansk region that are under Russian control.
