Court orders organizer of Kyiv region weapons exhibition to be held in custody

The Office of the Prosecutor General announced the decision on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"Upon a motion by the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the Sviatoshynskyi District Court of Kyiv imposed a preventive measure on the organizer of the event, who is suspected of committing a criminal offense under Part 3, Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court ordered that the suspect be held in custody without the possibility of bail," the statement said.

As previously reported, as of the first half of Monday, July 27, the death toll from the Russian strike on the weapons exhibition in the Kyiv region on July 24 had risen to 11.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the weapons exhibition should never have taken place, stressing that, given an enemy such as Russia, it is unacceptable to hold weapons exhibitions attended by large crowds and located near residential buildings.

In addition to the criminal case opened over the Russian strike itself, investigators launched separate criminal proceedings under Part 3, Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine concerning the possible negligent performance of official duties during the organization and conduct of the event, which allegedly resulted in deaths and other serious consequences.

Law enforcement officers detained the chief organizer of the exhibition and formally notified him that he was under suspicion.

The Office of the Prosecutor General also stated on Facebook that prosecutors had requested the suspect's detention without the possibility of bail.

According to media reports, the suspect has been identified as Vasyl Honcharuk.