Monday, April 21, 2014, 20:49
One of the organizers of the pro-Russian rallies in Kharkiv, Kostiantyn Dolhov, was detained and taken into custody for two months, his associates reported to UNIAN.
According to their reports, Dolhov was arrested on April 19 in the city center, then he was taken home while his residence was searched. In the evening of April 19, Dolhov was taken to the Kyivskiy District Court of Kharkiv for arraignment and pretrial detention.
According to the preliminary information, the activist is suspected of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional destruction or damage of private property that caused severe damage committed by arson).
Dolhov’s companion said that preventive detention was elected by judge Kostiantyn Sadovskiy, who once led the case against the United Energy Systems of Ukraine corporation with the prosecution of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko.
The judge chose to place Dolhov in custody for a period of 2 months, but he also set bail UAH 600,000.
Dmytro Tykhonenkov, Dolhov’s attorney, said that an appeal will be made within 5 days. On April 20, Tykhonenkov met with Dolhov in Kharkiv’s prison.
The hearing at which Judge Sadovskiy ordered Dolhov’s detention, was held behind closed doors and it was picketed by a dozen activists. They chanted “Power to the People”, “Free Dolhov”, “Kostia Cheer up” and demanded the release of Dolhov.
At the same time, Kharkiv Anti-maidan social network groups noted that the meeting will take place on April 20. Organizers of the event called for a peaceful assembly.
The original text is on Ukrainska Pravda at http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/20/7023076/
