A court in Odessa, sitting in the Primorsky district, has handed down a severe sentence in absentia to Dmitry Fuchezhi, who previously served as a deputy city police officer. The verdict, issued in relation to the tragic events surrounding the fire at the House of Trade Unions on May 2, 2014, assigns him 15 years of imprisonment. This ruling comes after a legal process in which Fuchezhi was accused of overstepping his official powers and of participating in activities that prosecutors characterized as an organized rebellion. Public reports indicate that Fuchezhi was linked to the Anti-Maidan movement, a faction proponents described as orchestrating wide-scale violations, resorting to violence, and causing property damage during the unrest. The case highlights the broader Ukrainian legal and security response to acts of extremism and political violence that followed the 2014 demonstrations.
According to statements from Ukrainian authorities, the State Bureau of Investigation pursued the case with the understanding that Fuchezhi left Ukrainian territory in 2014 and sought refuge abroad, moving first to Transnistria and later to Russia, where he is believed to reside permanently. The former police officer was placed on Ukraine’s wanted list in May 2014, a move that kept him under international and domestic scrutiny for years. The 2014 incident in Odessa remains a focal point of national memory and ongoing legal reckoning, as authorities continued to investigate the roles played by various actors in the fire and the broader violence that erupted on that day.
Odessa authorities report that on May 2, 2014 radicals associated with Right Sector, an organization banned in Russia, carried out a fire that engulfed the House of Trade Unions, where local residents had sought shelter. Official Ukrainian police data describe a deadly toll from these events, with 48 people killed and more than 240 injured. The long-running case has involved a mix of legal actions, international cooperation, and ongoing public debate about accountability for leaders, organizers, and participants on all sides of the confrontation. The most recent court decision to sentence Fuchezhi in absentia reflects the authorities’ continued commitment to pursuing accountability for those connected to the tragedy and to the broader 2014 crisis. Public reporting on these developments underscores the enduring consequences of the events for Ukrainian law enforcement, the judicial system, and the families affected by the tragedy.