Criminal charges will be brought against the so-called ”titushky” (criminalized groups, traditionally used for provocations during mass protests for a certain reward, term derives from the surname of Vadym Titushko, who attacked journalists of the 5th Channel in 2013), who assaulted ATO veterans (veterans of Donbas war). Ukrainians outraged that the police worked together with pro-Russian ”titushky”.
Police forces used batons, leaving several ATO veterans injured, with one of the veterans being taken to a hospital in an ambulance with a fractured skull. As explained by law enforcers, the conflict began as the Socialists walked in a column with the pink banners of their party. They did not react to the request not to fly them. Several ATO veterans also stopped the column of people organized by the Opposition Bloc, also heading toward the Monument of Glory.
A skirmish between ATO veterans and ”titushky” erupted at this moment. In total, 15 people were taken to police units, while 14 people, including eight participants in the event and six policemen, were injured.
See also: May 9 parade in Russian-occupied Donetsk: Old aircraft, terrorists as ”heroes”
Ukraine`s Minister of Interior Aren Avakov on May 10 signed the executive orders to dismiss the chief of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Dnipropetrovsk region Ihor Repeshko and head of Dnipro Police Department Andriy Bidylo, according to the minister`s Facebook posting.
”After a preliminary consideration of the incidents and provocations in the City of Dnipro:
In the morning, an order was signed to dismiss General Repeshko, choed of Dnipropetrovsk region`s police directorate; chief of Dnipro City Police Department Colonel Bidylo; their corresponding deputies for ensuring public safety,” the minister said.
According to Avakov, ”an official investigation has been launched concerning the events that had taken place to further probe the actions of the police. A commission headed by chairman of the police internal security office Koval was deployed to Dnipro.”
As the minister noted, ”a special investigation team was set up and deployed to Dnipro to investigate within criminal proceedings the actions of civilians and their coordinators.”
Avakov promised to disclose the results of the investigation and stressed: ”I hope this lesson will be learned by the Dnipro police. I hope, it will be also learned by politicians. If we draw conclusions, we will be stronger! ”.
Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said that eight attackers had been identified and subsequently detained by law enforcers. He also noted that the investigation was underway to ”establish an organizer of the attack and the source of ”titushky”`s financing.
In addition, the Prosecutor General`s Office launched an investigation into possible cooperation between local police forces and street thugs involved in the attack.
”Yesterday, eight ”titushky” identified who assaulted the ATO veterans were identified and detained. They will be prosecuted. The investigation is underway to establish an organizer and a source of financing of these `titushky.` Also, an investigation is being carried out into the shameful cooperation of the employees of the National Police with the ”titushky.” They will bear responsibility for this,” he wrote.
11 May 2017
Those titushki looked very confident that they would not be obstructed- even smiling for the camera. Obviously, time for a major overhaul of the police force in Dnipro.