Alexander Kostenko sentenced to real time

Crimean resident Oleksandr Kostenko was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in a penal colony for attacking a Berkut guard during the Maidan events in Kyiv.

On May 15, 2015, the Kyiv District Court of Simferopol recognized a resident of Crimea, Alexander Kostenko guilty under paragraph "b" part 2 of Art. 115 (deliberate infliction slight harm to health, which caused a short-term health disorder, motivated by ideological hatred or enmity), Part 1 Art. 222 (illegal possession and carrying of firearms and ammunition) and sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison with serving in a penal colony.

The court recognized the version of the prosecution that Kostenko was in Kiev Maidan threw a stone at Ensign Polienko, an employee of the Crimean special forces "Berkut", "sharing the ideology of the Ukrainian radical nationalist political party "Svoboda", which puts its purpose of forcibly overthrowing the constitutional order in Ukraine" , as well as "experiencing a sense of ideological hatred and enmity towards employees of the internal affairs bodies providing protection public order, as representatives of legitimate authority" and "for the purpose of using violence against a person with other ideological looks " . The health of the ensign was slightly harmed.

We cannot judge whether the fact itself took place attacks, although we note that Kostenko did not admit guilt, does not agree with the verdict and claims to be tortured . However must be taken into account that at the time of the alleged crimes on the territory of Ukraine Kostenko (like the injured Polienko) did not was a citizen of the Russian Federation. Initiation of a case by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the events in Kyiv violates the principles of the legality of criminal law and territorial jurisdiction.

Sources

• Kostenko Alexander Fedorovich // HRC "Memorial". 2015.