The Maidan Cases In Numbers And In Pictures

It has been 3 years since the Maidan massacre, the most tragic days of the Ukrainian Revolution of dignity.  91 people were killed (78 demonstrators and 13 policemen) and 1973 people were injured. The last 3 days were the most violent. 

On the 20 th  February 2014, 48 activists and 4  fighters from government forces were killed. 173 people from both the activist and police sides received gunshot wounds. Three years of investigations have passed.

Hromadske have collated the facts and figures from the most high-profile legal cases surrounding events that took place on Maidan during the winter of 2013-2014.

These cases can be divided into 3 categories; those that are currently at pre-trial stage, those that are currently being heard in court, and those of which a verdict has already been reached.

There are 89 criminal proceedings all in all, including investigations into the deaths of 91 people. There are a total of 1973 victims, 9500 witnesses and 193 suspects, 77 of which are still wanted. There are 30 cases being heard in different courts of first instance. 9 verdicts have already been passed, but only one person convicted is currently serving a prison sentence. 13 more people are behind bars awaiting their verdict. 35 investigators from the Prosecutor General’s office are working on the Maidan cases.

The 12 most important from the 89 cases have been selected and explained and accompanied by illustrations from Alevtina Kadizhde.

Case #1

The dispersal of students by the riot police, November 30th 2013, 4 a.m.

This case concerns 86 victims and 15 suspects, all of which are still wanted. Amongst them is the former president Viktor Yanukovych, the former secretary and deputy secretary of the Security Council, the former Minister of Internal Affairs, and the leaders of the Kyiv police. The former head of Kyiv City State Administration has already appeared in court, as well as 5 deputy commanders from the riot police Berkut, including Andriy Didyuk who continues to work in the Kyiv police.

Case #2

Confrontation in front of the Presidential Administration, December 1st, 2013. 

This case involves 80 victims who were forcibly dispersed between 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm on December 1 st 2013. Ex-president Yanukovych, Minister of Internal Affairs Zakharchenko and the leaders of the Kyiv and Kharkiv riot police Berkut battalions are under suspicion in connection with this case.

Case #3

The attempt to forcibly disperse protestors on Maidan Square, December 11th 2013, 1 a.m.

There are 36 victims involved in this case. Charges against commanders from the Kyiv Berkut riot police have been referred to the court. Again, former Ukrainian President Yanukovych and Minister for Interior Zakharchenko and leaders of the Kyiv police are wanted in connection with this case.

Case #4

The "dictatorship laws" of January 16th, 2014.

This case involves 3 ex-MPs accused of falsifying votes in favor of the anti-protest laws. All three men have been referred to the court. The Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Parliament and the Chairman of the Counting Commission, along with 12 other MPs are also wanted in connection with this case.

Case #5

The case of titushky (“Oplot” members), January 21st, 2014.

There are 2 victims involved in this case, and 3 people have been convicted. One of the convicted members of the then pro-government militia ‘Oplot’ is now serving a 3-year prison sentence. He is the only person currently imprisoned as a result of the Maidan cases. There are 5 other ‘Oplot’ members still under suspicion in relation to this case, including the head of the ‘Oplot’ who later moved to Donetsk who was gunned down in Moscow on September 19 th 2016.

Case #6

The ‘Colonnade’ incident on Hrushevskogo Street, January 21st, 2014.

This case involves charges against Berkut riot police soldiers who threw 2 Maidan protestors from colonnades in front of the Stadium. A pre-trial investigation is being conducted into 2 Kharkiv Berkut soldiers, however they have both been released on bail.

Case #7

The first murders, January 22nd 2014.

A pre-trial investigation in cases of Nigoyan, Senyk, Zhysnevsky, the kidnapping of Lutsenko, and the kidnapping and killing of Verbytsky is currently underway but so far there are no suspects.

Case #8

The burning of cars involved in the “AutoMaidan”, the detention of protesters, the falsification of reports and protocols against them, and the rendering of illegal court decisions, January 23rd, 2014.

Including the other court proceedings involving the participants of the ‘AutoMaidan’ protests, there are 156 victims in total in relation to this case. 2 judges, 4 prosecutors and 7 investigators of the district militia are being are being tried for their involvement in passing illegal resolutions and falsifying documents. Charges against the head of the Dniprovsky District police, his deputy and 4 investigators have also been referred to the court. The Kyiv Investigation Department and the Chief Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs has also been referred having been accused of tapping the phone calls of protestors. 2 commanders and 7 officers of Kyiv Berkut units have also been referred to court.

In addition to this, 14 investigators, 2 judges, 6 prosecutors, the Head of the Kyiv State Automobile Inspectorate, his deputy, the Deputy Head of the Road Patrol Service of the Kyiv State Automobile Inspectorate and 20 of its inspectors have also been suspected of illegally seizing driver’s licenses.

Case #9

The dispersal of the march on the Parliament, February 18th, 2014.

This dispersal attempt resulted in the death of 10 protestors. Altogether 500 people have been recognized as victims in this case, 103 of which were seriously or moderately injured. A soldier from the Kharkiv Berkut riot police has been conditionally sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment for beating a member of the Ivano-Frankivsk unit with a baton. A commander in the Kharkiv Berkut is also being tried in court and is currently being held in a detention centre. Two more cases concerning commanders from the Kharkiv and Lviv Berkut have also been taken to court. In addition to this, 4 other soldiers from the Kharkiv Berkut have also been suspected of similar crimes, one of which is currently in custody having been accused of shooting lead ammunition and protestors with a Fort-500 shotgun.

Case #10

The so-called “anti-terrorist operation” which led to the Trade Union Building being burnt down on the night of February 19th, 2014.

This incident resulted in the deaths of 18 protestors, and affected 200 victims. An indictment against the former Head of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv, along with cases against 3 ‘titushky’ have also been taken to court.

Case #11

The shooting of 48 people on Instytutska Street, February 20th, 2014.

A total of 48 people were killed on Instytutska Street and a further 157 people were wounded, 80 of which by firearms specifically. 407 people have been subpoenaed into acting as witnesses for the prosecution, and 100 for the defense. There are 1000 volumes to this case.

As a result, charges against the Deputy Battalion Commander of the Kyiv Berkut and soldiers from the Kyiv Berkut have been taken to court. So far, this court hearing has lasted half a year however, 18 soldiers from the Kyiv Berkut are still wanted, including an ex-commander of the Kyiv Berkut Battalion and 7 top officials, including former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, and yet again,  former Minister of Internal Affairs Vitaliy Zakharchenko and former President, Viktor Yanukovych.

Case #12

The injury of law enforcement officers

13 law enforcement and officers in the internal troops were killed during the Maidan protests. A further 900 were injured 200 suffered gunshot wounds. As of yet there are suspects in this case.

By Angelina Kariakina, Kateryna Sergatskova, Alevtyna Kakhidze.