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Ukraine’s Interior Ministry closes case on late ultranationalist Muzychko

There is no evidence that policemen exceeded their duty, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry says

Right Sector members and supporters gathered near the Verkhovna Rada last week AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov

Right Sector members and supporters gathered near the Verkhovna Rada last week

© AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov

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Ingush leader says Ukrainian ultranationalist deserved to be killed

KIEV, April 02. /ITAR-TASS/. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday that it had officially closed its internal investigation into the death of Ukraine’s ultranationalist Oleksandr Muzychko, who was shot dead by law enforcers late last month, adding that policemen acted in line with their duties.

Muzychko, also known as Sashko Bilyi, was killed near a cafe in the western Ukrainian town of Rivne on March 25 late night in the course of a special police operation to neutralize a militant group.

“There is no evidence that policemen exceeded their duty,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the internal investigation into the death of the ultranationalist can be now considered officially closed.

Ukrainian First Deputy Interior Minister Volodymyr Yevdokymov told a news briefing last week that Muzychko was killed after he put up an armed resistance as policemen and officers of the Sokol special task unit asked him to surrender.

Muzychko on international wanted list

Muzychko was put on the international wanted list on suspicion of committing war atrocities in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya. The Russian Investigative Committee earlier opened a criminal case against the ultranationalist on charges of taking part in combat actions on the side of Chechen warlords Khattab and Basayev against Russian soldiers.

According to investigators, Muzychko brutally tortured and eventually killed at least 20 Russian soldiers during Russia’s military campaigns in Chechnya between 1994 and 2000.

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Kiev describes Right Sector leader's statement as threat to stability

Following the killing of Muzychko, hundreds of radicals from the Right Sector gathered on March 27 in front of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s unicameral parliament in Kiev, and then stormed the building smashing windows and forcing lawmakers to leave.

On Tuesday, a Ukrainian special parliamentary committee, set up to investigate the killing of Muzychko, came up with a recommendation to dismiss parliament-appointed Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and bring to a court trial all those involved in the death of the late ultranationalist.

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