The former commander of the Lviv special purpose militia battalion "Berkut" Rostyslav Pacelyak was declared of a new suspicion — of organizing an abuse of authority or official authority by a law enforcement officer, as well as misappropriation of firearms (Part 3 of Article 27, Part 1 of Article 365, Part 2 of Article 262 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
This was reported in the Office of the Prosecutor General.
According to the investigation, Pacelyak organized the embezzlement of ten "Fort-500 M-1" pump-action rifles. This weapon was used by "Berkut" and other units of internal affairs bodies against protesters on Instytutska, Shovkovychna Streets and Kriposnyi lane in Kyiv during the Euromaidan. Shots were fired with impact-traumatic cartridges and lead buckshot. As a result, three activists died, ten received gunshot wounds of varying degrees of severity.
- The "Berkut" special unit was liquidated by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov after the events on the Maidan in the winter of 2014. "Berkutians" are considered to be involved in the murders of peaceful protesters, the disappearance of people and torture.
- On March 22 of this year, the State Bureau of Investigation notified Rostislav Pacelyak of suspicion. He is suspected of exceeding official powers, committing a terrorist act, organizing to cause grievous bodily harm, as well as committing intentional murders and completed attempts to kill two or more participants in protest actions.
- On April 25, the Court of Appeal took him into custody without bail.