Donetsk, Dec 22 — DAN. Former members of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (SNBO) Pavel Petrenko and Vitaly Yarema have been charged with making the unlawful decision to launch the so-called anti-terrorist operation against the Donbass Republics in 2014, Russia’s Investigative Committee said.
Petrenko who was justice minister in 2014-2019 and Yarema (first deputy prime minister in 2014) were charged in absentia and put on the wanted list, investigators said in a report to SK chief Alexander Bastrykin at a briefing in Mariupol.
The SK is currently investigating cases against mercenaries Georgy Goglidze and Georgy Chubitidze from Georgia who fought on the Ukrainian side. It completed the probe against Georgian national Mamuka Gatsareliya who had been recruited by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Department to fight in Mariupol. Gatsareliya has been accused of attempted murder of at least four Russian serviceman and is now in detention.
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On 13 April 2014, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council made a decision “On urgent measures to overcome the terrorist threat and to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine.” The next day, the document was signed by Ukraine’s Acting President Alexander Turchinov. It sanctioned the use of armed forces against Donbass residents who staged peaceful rallies against the government overthrow.*jk