Donetsk, Mar 20 – DAN. The Initiative Group, at a meeting in Donetsk on Tuesday, approved the charter and composition of the Ukrainian People’s Tribunal for Poroshenko's regime war crimes against Ukraine’s citizens.

“We’re holding a constitutive session of the Ukrainian People’s Tribunal for Poroshenko's clique war crimes. The text of the Charter, drawn in accordance with international legislation, has been shared with the participants,” said Elena Shishkina, a lawyer from Donetsk who is an Initiative Group member.

The document was approved unanimously. Lawyers Elena Shishkina, Lyubov Batyasheva and Tatyana Kravchenko were elected to preside over proceedings. Lawyer Sergey Kozhemyakin was appointed the prosecutor and Elena Gridina was appointed the defence lawyer.

“I believe the defence lawyer should necessarily participate in the hearings as any person is guaranteed the right to the defence of their interests in court,” Gridina said.

Lots were drawn to select 12 jurors from among the people who had applied through the Ukrainian People’s Tribunal hotlines.

On March 15, the Initiative Group of Ukrainian citizens living in Donetsk and Lugansk announced the establishment of the People’s Tribunal for Poroshenko's regime war crimes. It will review the crimes of high-ranking officials, including Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko, National Security Council Secretary Alexander Turchinov, Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak and Ukrainian armed forces commander-in-chief Viktor Muzhenko.

The cases will be tried in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and international law. *jk*ot