The court granted the prosecutor’s request of pre-trial detention for Dmytruk, who is charged with illegally crossing the Ukrainian border and assaulting law enforcement officials.
“The risk of flight, which Dmytruk is already undertaking, the risk of influencing witnesses, and victims, since he has such opportunities even when abroad,” the prosecution outlined grounds for the MP’s arrest and detention.
The ruling enables Ukraine to seek Dmytruk’s arrest abroad and push for extradition.
Dmytruk's lawyer, Vitaliy Zaperchenko, stated that the MP is not evading justtice but is "taking measures to protect his life due to threats." He also noted that prosecutors provided no evidence that Dmytruk had influenced witnesses or destroyed evidence in the past two years.
The defense further argued that Dmytruk's departure from Ukraine was legal.
“The constitutional rights of a Member of Parliament cannot be restricted during martial law or a state of emergency,” said Zaperchenko.
On Aug. 25, Ukrainian media reported that MP Artem Dmytruk had illegally crossed the border, initially traveling to Moldova and then to Italy.
On the same day, the Prosecutor General's Office announced that the MP was charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer and a military officer.