Ukrainian court grants permission to detain Russian Defense Minister
The Pechersk District Court of Kiev has authorized the detention of the Russian Minister of Defense, Sergey Shoygu. This was stated in the Court decision on the 26th of August, published in the Register of Court Decisions.
“Permission for the pre-trial investigation authority to detain suspect is hereby granted to bring him in for court hearing on the request of seeking a prison sentence for him. On the basis of the decision of the investigative judge, the detainee has to be released not later than 36 hours from the moment of detention or else he must be brought before the investigative judge who had authorized his detention,” the ruling stated.
According to the court decision, this ruling should cease to be in force on the 26th of February 2017 or before a specified date from the moment when the suspect is brought to the Court or withdrawal of decision by the Prosecutor. The decision is not subject to appeal.
Thus, the Court satisfied the petition of the Deputy Head of the Investigative Department of the Directorate for the investigation of crimes against foundations of national security of Ukraine, peace, security of mankind and international legal order.
Russian authorities have not commented on this information yet. On the 22nd of August, Sergey Shoygu was declared wanted. Earlier, the Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s Office informed 20 high-level, Russian officials, including the Minister of Defense, Sergey Shoygu and the Advisor to the Russian President, Sergey Glazyev, of suspicion of commission of crimes against the foundations of national security of Ukraine.
General Prosecutor of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko stated that the Main Military Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine continues to collect evidence of the involvement of other Russian officials and servicemen in waging an aggressive war against Ukraine, as well as the commission of other military crimes.