SBI Reports Cases of Police Beating and Abusing Citizens

Investigations are currently underway into four cases in three regions.

The State Bureau of Investigation reported on several ongoing investigations into abusive treatment and unlawful use of force by National Police officers against citizens of Ukraine. 

In particular, facts of police officers exceeding their powers were established in Zhytomyr and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as in Kyiv region.

We detail the high-profile incidents and the results of their investigation by SBI officers.

Beating of a Man in Zhytomyr

Investigators of the SBI Territorial Office in Khmelnytskyi, with the assistance of the internal security of the National Police, opened a pre-trial investigation into the beating of a 41-year-old man at the Zhytomyr district police station.

The citizen was brought to the police station to clarify the details of a possible minor act of hooliganism.

A verbal conflict arose between one of the operatives and the man, as a result of which the police officer beat the man with a rubber baton right in the lobby of the district police station. Fortunately, other visitors to the station saw the beating, stopped the police officer and called an ambulance.

The victim was diagnosed with a closed traumatic brain injury, a concussion and numerous bruises to various parts of the body.

Unfounded search that turned into abuse and beatings 

In Zaporizhzhia, patrol police groundlessly stopped a woman and a man and ordered the latter to undress.

The patrol officers did not find any prohibited substances on the man, but continued to abuse and beat him. They twisted the victim's ears and fingers and struck his head, body and legs. The man sustained bodily injuries.

Beatings During Detention

Also, a patrol police inspector in Zhytomyr region who beat people during detention will stand trial. The indictment in the case has already been sent to court.

In November 2020, a patrol officer together with a colleague stopped a car in Zhytomyr because its driver had violated traffic rules.

The driver's conversation with the police officers escalated into an argument, as a result of which the officers detained the driver and handcuffed him. 

After that, the patrol officer began beating the man with his hands and feet on the head. He also struck the passenger of the car in the face.

A similar incident occurred in Kyiv region. The SBI reported a suspicion against an inspector of the tactical response unit of the patrol police in Bila Tserkva, who beat a traffic violator.

On the night of October 9 to 10, a patrol of police officers in Bila Tserkva stopped a local car whose driver turned at a traffic light on a red light. 

The law enforcement officers decided that the driver was intoxicated and, without conducting the appropriate test, began writing a fine (Article 130 of the CPC).

While drawing up the protocol and seizing the driver's license, the driver, in the heat of emotion, struck the rear window of the police car with his hand.

After that, the law enforcement officers ran out of the service car, knocked the man off his feet and pinned him down. 

The inspector began beating him with his hands and feet on the head and torso, then the police officers handcuffed him. The officer did not react to the man's apologies and pleas not to beat him and continued the beating.

What Liability Awaits Violators

All the police officers mentioned in this material are suspected or charged with abuse of power and official authority accompanied by violence (Part 2 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for up to 8 years.

The agency shared that exposing and holding accountable law enforcement officers who, instead of protecting citizens, abuse them is "one of the important areas of work of the State Bureau of Investigation."