Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn has said all crimes against activists in Ukraine must be prosecuted.
"I spoke to civil society representatives in my 1st meeting in Ukraine tonight. The murder of K[ateryna] Handziuk and all crimes against activists must be prosecuted. There won't be a stable, modern, prosperous Ukraine without a strong rule of law and independent judicial institutions," he wrote on Twitter in the early hours of November 9, 2018.
I spoke to #civilsociety representatives in my 1st meeting in @Ukraine tonight. The murder of K #Handziuk and all crimes against activists must be prosecuted. There won't be a stable, modern, prosperous #Ukraine without a strong #RuleOfLaw and independent judicial institutions. pic.twitter.com/I3lirAyZWX
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) November 8, 2018
As UNIAN reported earlier, Kherson activist, adviser to the Mayor of Kherson and acting manager of affairs at Kherson City Council's executive committee Kateryna Handziuk on July 31 survived an act of acid throwing. Handziuk's injury was over 30% of the total body surface area, and doctors assessed her condition as serious.
She was transferred to a Kyiv hospital, where died on November 4 after long treatment. She reportedly died of a blood clot.
Police originally qualified the attack on the official as an attempted murder committed with extreme cruelty, then its status was changed to completed murder.
Six suspects were detained, one of whom, Mykola Novikov, was later released from custody as charges against him were dropped.
Three suspects – Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, Volodymyr Vasyanovych, and Viktor Horbunov – are now under house arrest.
The alleged organizer of the assassination, Serhiy Torbin, remains in custody. His arrest has recently been extended until December 3.
Mykyta Hrabchuk is also under arrest.
Hahn arrived in Kyiv on November 8, his visit will last until November 9.