Odesa May 2 Tragedy: What We Know About the Investigation
On May 2, 2014 supporters of Euromaidan and Anti—Maydan clashed in the city center and on Kulykove pole in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa. This led to a fire in the Trade Unions House, which killed 42 people.
On May 2, 2014 supporters of Euromaidan and "Anti-Maydan" clashed in the city center and on Kulykove Field in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa. This led to a fire in the Trade Unions House, which killed 42 people. Another six people died from gunshot wounds that they received during clashes in and around Hretska Square. The investigation found that riots in Odesa were organized and specially planned.
Law enforcement officers are investigating events in several criminal cases on various facts. The most resounding of which concerns events on Hretska Square.
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During the pre-trial investigation of the riots on May 2, 2014 in Odesa, as a result of which 48 people were killed, law enforcement officers questioned over 1,300 witnesses. To establish all the circumstances of the crime more than 250 examinations were conducted.
Prosecutor's office of the Odesa region reported this to Hromadske.
According to the results of the preliminary investigation, 29 people were considered suspects, and 14 suspects are wanted.
Cases concerning six participants of the events of May 2 are in court. Four people already received convictions under Part 2 of Art. 294 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (organization of mass riots leading to death or other serious consequences).
Currently, the Mykolayiv region Court of Appeal is looking into the appeal of the regional prosecutor's office against the ruling of the Illichivsk city court to acquit 19 persons involved in the events of May 2, 2014.
READ MORE: Four Years Later: Odesa Massacre Remains Unpunished
In addition, the court is considering the indictment in respect of one participant in the riots on May 2 in the Hretska Square. The man is accused of the premeditated murder of a man and an encroachment on the life of a law enforcement officer.
“During the court hearings, the prosecutor and the court actually put pressure on the activists present in the hall,” the prosecutor’s office said.
The Central District Court of Mykolayiv continues the trial of the indictment of two other persons who are accused of preparing for the organization of mass riots in 2014 and deliberate actions and public calls for the overthrow of the constitutional system and changing the state border of Ukraine. They are currently in custody.
Earlier, the UN mission called the investigation of the events of May 2, 2014 in Odesa ineffective and stated that the Ukrainian authorities did not do enough to investigate effectively.