Ukraine to put former Ukrainian leadership on trial for dispersal and shooting of Maidan demonstrators in Kyiv on February 18-20, 2014

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation have completed the investigation into the participation of Ukraine's former leadership in the violent crackdown on the Maidan Revolution.

The press service of the State Bureau of Investigation reported this.

Among the accused officials are former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, former Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Vitalii Zakharchenko, and other representatives of the power bloc. 

The investigation established that at that time, they gave orders to disperse activists using military equipment and firearms. These orders contradicted existing legislation.

The former leadership also organised the storming of Maidan as an "anti-terrorist operation," and on the morning of February 20, ordered the shooting of protesters. 

As a result of the actions of high-ranking officials, 67 protesters were killed. A total of 887 people and 132 law enforcement officers were injured. Property damage of over ₴16 million was caused.

The proceedings include information on 1,019 cases of criminal obstruction of protests and 1,878 volumes of collected materials.

The indictment has been sent to court. Procedural guidance is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.