Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has everyone reassured that the Ukrainian government and law enforcement authorities are doing all they can to prevent provocations and acts of sabotage in Odesa during the upcoming May holidays.
“We proved that we will not allow anyone to stage anything dangerous there. Protecting cultural and language rights by killing the Odesa people – there will be none of that, and on May 2 we will not allow any repeats,” he told reporters in Odesa on April 10, when speaking in the context of arrests of a large group of saboteurs who plotted terror attacks in Odesa.
As regards the inquiry into the May 2, 2014 events, the president said: “My only wish with regard to May 2 is more transparency in the investigation, the people of Odesa have the right to know what is going on and who is accused, regardless of the political hue of those who are objectively suspected of the people’s deaths.”
Most suspects in this case are “today hiding either in Transdniestria or in Russia,” he said.
It was reported that 48 people were killed and over 200 injured during mass disturbances in Odesa on May 2, 2014. Most victims of the tragedy died at the trade unions’ house.
The inquiry found that the mass disturbances had been planned and staged deliberately.
A few days later law enforcement officers arrested the main suspects – members of extremist organizations and several police officers. The former Odesa regional police chief, Dmitry Fuchedzhi, was put on the wanted list. He managed to abscond by leaving the country.
On Sept. 25, President Poroshenko announced that three people had already been held to account in connection with the Odesa events, and that Fuchedzhi was on the run. The head of state asked Russia to assist in returning Fuchedzhi to Ukraine to stand trial.
