A press conference was held today in Kyiv on the case of Kharkiv patriots who are under arrest after clashes with pro-Russian combat units.
During a press conference, Viktor Shendybylo, a lawyer of the National Corps, said that the detained Kharkiv patriots were charged with attempted premeditated murder and hooliganism, despite the fact that the “victims” had only minor injuries. He also added that the guys had been given the most difficult precautionary measure – arrest without bail, and said there was political pressure on the investigation from pro-Russian structures.
“Immediately after this incident, the media, affiliated with a certain political force and Ilya Kiva, the head of this organization, reported two dead, several abducted and the use of automatic firearms. However, the police later officially denied all this, saying that there were only four victims with minor injuries, which does not lead to a particularly serious crime,” he said.
Also during the press conference, the head of the Central Staff of the National Corps Maksym Zhorin expressed his conviction that the Kharkiv patriots, fighting against the combat units, performed the functions of law enforcement agencies.
“We, like most Ukrainians, support and approve of what these 16 heroes did. We well remember the price of the existence of such pro-Russian militant organizations on the territory of Ukraine, which killed Ukrainian activists, journalists and public figures. We well remember the Kharkiv “Oplot”, which attacked people and killed Ukrainians and, as a result, later formed its own battalion on the side of the so-called “DPR” and fought against Ukraine,” Zhorin stressed.
In turn, the head of the People’s Award Mission and the International Foundation for National-Patriotic Unity “Knight of Good Will” Pavlo Tsyganyuk announced that 16 political prisoners were awarded honorary awards “People’s Hero of Ukraine” for noble rank and significant contribution to state interests.
The protection of Kharkiv patriots also prepares the appeal against the appointed precautionary measure which consideration is scheduled for October 1.