Russia granted asylum to 18 former “Berkut” officers, who are wanted for murders during Euromaidan

Russia granted asylum to 18 former “Berkut” officers, who are suspected of committing murders and other crimes during Euromaidan and are wanted.

As reported by the Advocacy Advisory Panel, which prepared an infographic about the so-called “chorna rota” (black squadron) of “Berkut” officers.

“In total, according to the information established by the investigation, 25 “Berkut” officers from the special squadron + Yanishevsky were present on the Instytutska Street on February 20, 2014. All of them were presented with a suspicion of committing murders and other crimes. 21 of them have disappeared. They were put on a wanted list. Russia has officially confirmed granting citizenship to 15 of these persons, as well as granting asylum for 3 persons”, – as stated in the report.

The Advocacy Advisory Panel reminds that five “Berkut” officers – Pavlo Abroskin, Serhiy Zinchenko, Oleksandr Marinchenko, Serhiy Tamtura and Oleg Yanishevsky are on the dock in the Svyatoshynsk court in the case of the murders on the Instytutska Street. Four of them are from the “black squadron” and one is a deputy regiment commander.

The authors of the infographic state that it describes only the Kyiv “Berkut” officers and an investigation is being conducted regarding other units.

As a reminder, on May 17, 2016, the Svyatoshynsk court began the trial of the former Berkut officers: Pavlo Abroskin, Serhiy Zinchenko, Oleksandr Marinchenko, Serhiy Tamtura and Oleg Yanishevsky.

They are accused of shooting the Euromaidan activists on Institutska Street in Kyiv in February of 2014. Former officers of the Berkut Special Forces deny their guilt.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, 2.5 thousand people were injured during the Euromaidan and 104 of them died.

48 people died as a result of shootings on the Institutskaya Street on February 20, 2014. 80 people were injured from shots from Berkut side.

All crimes committed during the Revolution of Dignity are relatively grouped into one big “Maidan case”, which has 89 criminal proceedings. In particular, the murders of 91 people are being investigated (78 protesters and 13 officers of security forces).