The Verkhovna Rada MPs Face Criminal Charges Over a Kyiv Incident
Two deputies from the Servant of the People faction, Artem Dmitruk and Alexander Kunitsky, have been placed under suspicion in a criminal case. The allegations involve intentional harm to a person and other charges, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing materials from Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities say the incident occurred in central Kyiv on October 5. A video appeared online showing a confrontation during which a man was assaulted by individuals described as lawmakers.
A subsequent statement described that the victim was accused of fraud and pressured to pay money. When the MPs did not secure their desired outcome, a scuffle allegedly broke out.
In response, Dmitruk offered his account of the events. He asserted that the lawmakers entered a call center involved in the alleged scam and portrayed the beaten man as a puppet in a broader scheme.
The prosecutor’s office confirmed that a criminal case has been opened and that Dmitruk and Kunitsky are suspected of causing moderate bodily harm and engaging in hooliganism. The statement indicated that the case involves both charges and that the Main Investigation Department would oversee the pre-trial proceedings. It was also noted that the two cases were merged into a single proceeding.
Yulia Paliychuk, the spokesperson for the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, commented on the matter. She described the incident as unacceptable, stressing that such behavior cannot be tolerated within the chamber.
Prior to a sitting of the Verkhovna Rada, a separate altercation occurred among MPs, reflecting ongoing tensions inside the legislative body.