Former Berkut officer suspected of killing Euromaidan protesters taken into custody
Former Lviv Berkut commander Rostyslav Patseliak listens to the decision of the Kyiv Court of Appeal, April 24, 2023 (Photo:Screenshot of the broadcast KoshoveNko TV UA / YouTube)
The Kyiv Court of Appeals has ordered
Rostyslav Patselyak, former commander of the Lviv branch of Berkut
riot police, to be taken into custody for 60 days without bail. Patselyak is
suspected of abusing his authority, committing acts of domestic terrorism, and
killing Euromaidan protesters, according to live reporting from the courtroom
on April 24.
Patselyak had been under night house arrest since March 24, as per the decision of Pechersk District Court in Kyiv. The Kyiv Court of Appeals has now changed his preventive measure to 60 days detention.
During the appeal hearing on April 24, Patselyak stated that night house arrest interfered with his work in Kyiv and prevented him from visiting his hometown of Novoyavorivsk in Lviv Oblast.
The former commander of Lviv Berkut is suspected of abusing his authority, committing acts of terrorism, inflicting serious bodily harm, as well as intentionally killing and attempting to kill two or more civilians during the 2014 Euromaidan protests.
Patselyak was first detained in October 2015 in a case involving abuse of authority, obstruction of professional activities of journalists and peaceful assembly on Feb. 18, 2014. The Kyiv Court of Appeals ordered his night-time house arrest with an electronic bracelet a month later. In September 2021, the Svyatoshyn District Court of Kyiv changed his preventive measure to personal recognizance.
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