Husband of Murdered Activist Handziuk Blames Kherson Officials During Emotional Interview

30 March 2020 22:37

Serhiy Denisov, the husband of slated Ukrainian activist Kateryna Handziuk, during the interview with the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC).Screenshot from Youtube / UA:PBC

For the first time, the husband of Kherson activist and advisor to the mayor Kateryna Handziuk has spoken about possible motives for the attack on the prominent activist.

Until recently Serhiy Denisov, the husband of slain Ukrainian activist Kateryna Handziuk, kept a low profile in the media. But he finally gave an interview to Ukraine's public broadcaster, in which he blamed local Kherson officials for the deadly acid attack in 2018.

Denisov specifically named the head of the Kherson Region Council, Vladyslav Manger, who is officially involved in the case, as well as Andriy Gordeev, the ex-chairman of the Kherson regional state administration, and former deputy chairman of the administration Yevhen Ryshchuk.

"Manger is being pressured right now. This is obvious and he is showing everyone that he is guilty," Denisov told the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) in an interview aired on March 23.

"But I am sure that other people, who were named earlier, are involved in this, but, again, they have been removed from the case by the hands of our law enforcement system. Ryshchuk and Gordeev were definitely involved. As well as a number of people who were close to them,” he added.

Denisov stressed that Handziuk was interfering with the political careers of local officials and this could have caused the attack on her.

“Katia had political ambitions. She had long outgrown Kherson and wanted to go beyond Kherson. She understood that if she ran in any elections – whether to the parliament or elsewhere, she would unequivocally win them,” Denisov said.

Manger previously denied his involvement in the crime and accused SBU general Danylo Dotsenko. Neither does the alleged organizer Oleksiy Levin (Moskalenko), who was recently detained in Bulgaria and extradited to Ukraine, admit his guilt. Ryshchuk and Gordeev also claim to have no role in the wrongdoing.

Denisov added that in addition to the named persons, those who covered up the crime should be punished, including those in the police and the Security Service.

What Happened in July 2018?

Handziuk, a 33-year old advisor to the mayor of Kherson and an outspoken critic of the national police in the region, was attacked outside her home on July 31, 2018. Approximately 30% of her body suffered from burns and she remained in the hospital for over three months after the attack undergoing 11 surgeries, which included removal of damaged tissue and skin replacement. She died on November 4, 2018.

According to the investigation, it was Levin who received an order to organize an attack on Handziuk from Manger. The latter found resistance to his illegal logging scheme from the activist, which undermined his authority in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.

Five people have already received sentences in the case and reached plea deals with the investigation. Another defendant, Pavlovskyi, who is charged with concealing a crime, also signed a plea bargain with the investigation, but later violated its terms. Pavlovskyi was once again detained and taken into custody on another suspicion – the creation of a criminal organization in the Kherson region.

Organization of the Attack

It has not yet been indicated how much money was paid for the crime. But, according to preliminary information, the charges served against Manger indicate a sum of $5,600 for the attack on Handziuk.

Further, according to the investigation, Levin engaged another person in the crime – Serhiy Torbin, who found the perpetrators. In turn, the arrangements were made in the courtyard of the office of another defendant – Ihor Pavlovskyi, who, according to the investigation, knew about the crime. Levin's role is confirmed by the testimony of other persons involved, as well as by the investigation.

According to investigators, Levin gave Torbin $5,000 to carry out the attack on Handziuk. When the perpetrators were already detained, Torbin asked Levin for another $2,000 for hiding, which was duly provided.

The investigation separately found that Levin, after leaving Ukraine, provided money to relatives of the defendants for keeping silent. According to investigators, Manger and Levin offered Torbin two options for the attack: pouring acid or breaking her arms and legs. Torbin was the one who was in direct contact with Levin.

Levin's Detention in Bulgaria

Bulgarian law enforcers together with representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Security Service detained Levin on January 24. Bulgarian police said Levin had changed his appearance so that he would not be recognized. He was identified by his fingerprints.

The Bulgarian court gave the green light for Levin’s extradition to Ukraine on February 21. Levin's defender Mykhailo Velychko said he would appeal and added that he was aware of the arrival of Manger’s defense lawyers – Andriy Murashkin and Dmytro Ilchenko. Manger's lawyers denied information about the visit to the suspect, but stressed that they did intend to question him.

The Court of Appeal dismissed Levin's defense’s appeal, which requested that he not be extradited on March 11. Five days later, Levin was taken to Ukraine. In a comment to hromadske, he stated that he had nothing to do with the crime and would prove it in a Ukrainian court. Levin also added that he would file a complaint against Bulgaria with the European Court of Human Rights.

In the interview, Denisov also mentioned that a monument to Handziuk would soon appear in Kherson, and he specifically visited a sculptor in the capital for this purpose.