Oleksandr Markushyn is released from custody: the court reduced the measure of restraint for the mayor of Irpin
3 February 22:20
The Kyiv Court of Appeal has changed the measure of restraint for Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn and placed him under round-the-clock house arrest. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Radio Liberty and Suspilne.
Thus, the defense filed an appeal against the decision of the Pechersk Court on detention.
“The investigating judge did not take into account the suspicion procedure: he did not acquire the status of a suspect, his property status was not assessed. The State Border Guard Service still allows single parents to travel. The primary reason was to bring the drones and then to congratulate his son on his birthday. He did not do any harm,” said defense counsel Ilya Vorobyov.
It is noted that during the court session, Markushin himself called the case against him a trumped-up case and accused former mayor Volodymyr Karpliuk of persecution.
In addition, the meeting was attended by the military, community representatives, and public figures who are ready to take Markushyn on bail, including MP Olha Vasylevska-Smagliuk and businessman Garik Korogodsky.
The defense also plans to appeal the decision to remove him from office.
On February 3, the Kyiv Court of Appeal placed Markushyn under round-the-clock house arrest.
What is known about Markushyn’s case
The State Bureau of Investigation served Markushyn with a notice of suspicion for illegally traveling abroad in August 2022. Law enforcement officials claim that Markushyn went to Italy not to help the military, but to see his 2-year-old son.
“I went abroad for a few days after the permission of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, returned, brought two drones and saw my son. The regional police looked into the case for two months and found nothing, while the SBI “drew” a suspicion in two days. I believe that the case against me is politicized and ordered by my opponents,” Markushyn said at the last meeting.
He added that he is the sole guardian of his son, as his wife died a month after giving birth. At that time, the man had not seen his son for six months, since his son was taken abroad after the outbreak of hostilities in the region.
According to the prosecutor, Markushin did not provide any documents confirming his volunteer activities abroad.
