National Guard no longer protects Shevchenkivskiy Court of Kyiv

In the morning of February 19, the National Guard has withdrawn protection from the Shevchenkivskiy District Court of Kyiv without giving any reason. This is stated in the relevant appeal of the court to the High Council of Justice, which was read at an emergency meeting of the High Council of Justice today, - 112.ua reports.

"In the morning of February 19, 2018, at about 9:30, the soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine, who were guarding, left the premises of the Shevchenkivskiy District Court of Kyiv without giving any reason for such an act", – the report said.

It is noted that the court thus remained without protection.

The letter draws attention to the fact that there were several situations in the Shevchenkivskiy District Court that had all signs of danger for the life and health of the court staff, participants in the court session, and significantly violated the public order, impeded the conduct of court hearings or disrupted them. It is noted that as a result of such events, the property of the court was repeatedly damaged. It is also noted that the court is considering a number of resonant cases, what also raises the level of danger for the court employees and those in its premises.

The Court asks the High Council of Justice to consider the relevant letter and take appropriate measures as soon as possible.

The High Council of Justice went to the chambers.

As previously reported, on February 15, during the securing of order near the courthouse, where the motion to arrest Odessa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov was considered, shooting occurred, which resulted in the wounding of a policeman. It was noted that the shooter was detained, the policeman with gunshot wounds of his legs was taken to the hospital. 36 people in total were taken to the police department, three of whom were detained. Law enforcement officers established personal data concerning others and released them. Later, the Shevchenkivskiy District Court of Kyiv discharged the people's deputies on bail, in particular, ex-soldier of the Donbas Battalion, who wounded the policeman.

On February 19, the MIA head Arsen Avakov demanded from the High Council of Justice to react immediately to such court judgement, and from the prosecutor's office and the court of appeal - to immediately make a fair decision in respect of the suspect. In this regard, Avakov calls for the abolition of protection of the courts by the police and the National Guard.