Donetsk, Apr 2 - DAN. The Ukrainian People’s Tribunal for investigating the Poroshenko regime’s crimes against Ukrainian citizens (UPT) heard the testimonies of eight victims and two witnesses at the Monday session.

“The Ukrainian People’s Tribunal considered the section “Crimes of illegal paramilitary and armed formations.” Eight victims and two witnesses have been questioned within the framework of laws covering these crimes. The Tribunal reviewed videos and photos presented by the prosecutor and the documented evidence provided by the lawyer for the defence,” UPT judge Lyubov Batyashova told the Donetsk News Agency.

Six of the victims are Lugansk region residents, Batyashova said. At the April 3 hearing, the Tribunal will hear the third batch of charges against the Poroshenko regime concerning tortures, looting and robberies.

Earlier on Monday, the UPT reviewed the second batch of charges (crimes committed by illegal paramilitary formations). The suspects are accused of the commission of acts punishable under a number of articles of Ukraine’s Criminal Code:


  • Article 260, Parts 1 - 6, setting up illegal paramilitary or armed formations, control of these formations, their funding, delivery of weapons, ammunition, explosives or military equipment to them (five to ten years in prison with property confiscation);

  • Article 27 and 257, Part 5 abetting banditry (five to 15 years in prison with property confiscation);

  • Article 27 and 258, Part 5 abetting the perpetration of acts of terror (five to ten years or life imprisonment with property confiscation)

  • Article 258-5, Part 3 funding of terrorism (ten to 12 years in prison with a ban to have certain positions or engage in certain activity for up to three years, with property confiscation).


On March 26 and 27, the Ukrainian People’s Tribunal charged eight Poroshenko regime officials with the use of armed forces against civilians. The charges were brought against the Ukrainian president, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, National Security and Defence Council Secretary Alexander Turchinov, Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman, Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko, Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak, parliament speaker Andrey Parubiy and former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The UPT set up by the initiative group of Ukrainian citizens living in Donetsk and Lugansk, will review cases in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and norms of international law.*jk