Activists gather outside pretrial detention centre where former Berkut officers are set to be released in swap. How did it unfold?

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What happened?

On Saturday, 28 November, the Kyiv Court of Appeal released from custody three former Berkut officers charged in the shootings on Maidan. On Sunday, 29 December, they are scheduled to be exchanged for Ukrainian citizens held in occupied territories and in Russia.

In total, five fighters of the former special unit are on the exchange list: three of them were in custody — Pavel Abroskin, Sergei Zinchenko and Oleg Yanishevsky. Defendant Alexander Marinchenko had until now been under round-the-clock house arrest, and Sergei Tampura under night-time house arrest. The court changed their preventive measure to a personal recognizance bond. 

Opponents of the exchange staged a protest outside the Lukyanivska detention centre in an effort to prevent the release of the former Berkut officers. 

How did it unfold?

12:07. There is no information on whether the Berkut officers have been taken out of the detention centre. People continue to patrol the perimeter of the detention facility in small groups.

03:28. Blogger Anton Khodza called on all opponents of the exchange to gather outside the detention centre walls by 5 a.m.

01:39. As of this time, all is calm outside the detention centre. People continue to remain there. 

00:53. Radio Svoboda published a video compilation of events outside the Lukyanivska detention centre.

00:38. The outlet Graty reports that as of now the situation outside the detention centre is calm (you can scroll through the photos using the slider). 

00:20. Director of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future Viktor Andrusiv asked the question: what is better, to avenge the memory of the fallen heroes or to bring back the living? The political scientist does not condemn the decision of the country's leadership.

00:17. Political scientist Konstantin Batozsky published another photo from outside the detention centre walls.

00:12. Journalist Anna Brikova published a video showing that around a hundred people are outside the detention centre.

00:08. Blogger Sergei Naumovich called the controllability of the judicial system and the use of “telephone law” a “disgrace”.

00:03. Garbage bins and a bench have become an improvised barricade blocking the gates of the detention centre.

23:58. An armoured vehicle was brought to the Lukyanivska detention centre, reports user Roman Petushkov.

23:56. Garbage bins were overturned outside the Lukyanivska detention centre (you can scroll through the photos using the slider). 

23:50. Deputy Prosecutor General overseeing the investigation of the “Maidan cases”, Viktor Chumak, said that political and legal decisions in a situation of undeclared war cannot be absolutely pure, and recalled Golda Meir's words: “a nation must learn to love its children more than its enemies.” 

23:49. Former President Petro Poroshenko spoke out against the exchange of “Berkut officers”.

23:42. Journalist Andrei Pavlovsky reports that 4 buses with National Guard fighters have arrived at the Lukyanivska detention centre (you can scroll through the photos using the slider).

23:40. Activist Roman Synytsyn reports that well-known TV presenter and member of the Holos party Sergei Prytula has arrived at the Lukyanivska detention centre.