Tetiana Chornovol, a former Ukrainian lawmaker from the People’s Front party, could face up to five years in prison after she scaled over the fence of the headquarters of Ukraine’s State Investigation Bureau and reportedly attempted to attack one of its top officials.
On Jan. 28, Chornovol climbed over the fence, which was topped with razor wire, in high-heel boots and then entered the building and headed to the room where the bureau’s deputy director, Oleksandr Babikov, was giving a briefing to journalists on investigations in Ukraine, the bureau said in a statement.
Chornovol interrupted the briefing and attempted to throw a mobile phone at Babikov, according to the bureau.
When Chornovol was asked how she got into the building of the State Investigation Bureau, she joked she flew in by helicopter. The bureau then released a surveillance video of Chornovol climbing over the fence, using her coat to cover the wire.
A video released by the State Investigation Bureau shows ex-lawmaker Tetiana Chornovol climbing the fence of the bureau’s headquarters on Jan. 28. (Courtesy)
According to Chornovol, her actions were a protest against Babikov, who was appointed deputy head of the State Investigations Bureau on Jan. 20. Before the appointment, Babikov worked as a lawyer, and defended fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych, who is charged with treason, in a Ukrainian court. Since the bureau investigates cases against Yanukovych, this appointment has been perceived as highly controversial.
On Jan. 22, Chornovol wrote on Facebook that the appointment of Babikov touched her personally.
During the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution that eventually ousted Yanukovych, Chornovol, then a journalist and an activist, was attacked and severely beaten. The perpetrator of the attack was found and convicted, but the search for the organizer goes on.
Former lawmaker and activist Tetiana Chornovol. (Pavlo Podufalov)
Chornovol said that she thought the attack was ordered by Yanukovych and organized by his bodyguard Kostyantyn Kobzar. She said she didn’t expect a fair investigation now that Babikov, the former defense lawyer of Yanukovych, is the deputy head of the agency investigating the attack.
“It touches me personally,” Chornovol wrote. “It is very interesting how Babikov will investigate my case now.”
The bureau launched an investigation into Chornovol over her breaking into the bureau’s office and attacking Babikov. It categorized her actions as a violation of public order and hooliganism.
If she is found guilty, Chornovol faces from 2 to 5 years in prison.
At the same time, Chornovol complained that she was beaten by the bureau employees who detained her.
Ex-lawmaker Tetiana Chornovol (R) stands during the press briefing of Oleksandr Babikov, deputy head of the State Investigation Bureau. Chornovol then allegedly threw her mobile phone at Babikov. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
This wasn’t the first time Chornovol made headlines for climbing a fence.
In August 2012, when Yanukovych was still president, she climbed the 5-meter fence of Yanukovych’s secretive mansion outside Kyiv, Mezhyhirya. Before she was found and ousted, she managed to take several photos of the luxurious residence and the park.
She took photos of the luxurious residence, which were among the first pictures of Mezhyhirya published in the media. After the EuroMaidan Revolution, Mezhyhirya opened for the public.
