Kyiv Metro Bridge “Miner” Alexei Belko Arrested
The former serviceman may leave pre-trial detention if he pays a 288,000 hryvnia bail.
The Dniprovskyi District Court of Kyiv placed Alexei Belko in custody. On Wednesday, 18 September, the man threatened to blow up the Kyiv Metro bridge.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, who was represented in court by lawyer Andriy Tarasov, People’s Deputy from the European Solidarity party Yana Zinkevych, and the commander of the KORD special unit asked for the former serviceman to be released on bail, although, as they noted, they do not know him personally.
The potential guarantors said they were ready to provide the suspect with housing and help him find work, since the prosecution stressed that he has no permanent residence or job, so a milder preventive measure is not possible for him.
However, the court decided to remand Belko in custody for 60 days and set bail at — 288,000 hryvnia. If the bail is paid, the man will be released, but he will have to report to the prosecutor and the court, get a job, not move without permission, and undergo treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
On Wednesday, 18 September, an armed man threatened to carry out an explosion on the Kyiv Metro bridge. Law enforcement launched a special operation and blocked the approaches to the bridge. Metro traffic from Kreshchatyk station to Lisova station was halted. Eventually, the man was detained.
He turned out to be 42-year-old serviceman Alexei Belko. During negotiations with the police, he demanded to be connected with his girlfriend. Sources say the man threatened to blow up the bridge because of her infidelity. It later also emerged that he had been expelled from the special forces over drugs.
Criminal proceedings were opened against Belko — initially for “preparation for a terrorist attack”, but the charge was later changed to milder articles, “hooliganism” and “false report of mining”.
On 19 September, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said he would apply to the court with a motion for the minimum sentence for Alexei Belko and wants to release him on bail.
Zelensky: Russia Used 115 Missiles, Nearly 1,900 Guided Bombs and Over 3,000 Drones in a Week
Attack on Major DTEK Energy Facility in Northern Odesa Region Leaves Some Families Without Power
Britain Threatens Sanctions on Kremlin-Linked People; Poland Ready to Hand Ukraine Ammunition
Russia says it has completed "planned exercises" in the Black Sea
MVD: Fake Riots With Prop Blood Were Being Prepared Near Presidential Office
Law Enforcers Name Another Klitschko Deputy as Suspect
Berlin Holds Protest Against War in Ukraine; EU Prepares for Possible Russian Halt of Gas Supplies
North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Over Record Distance in Five Years
Irish Fishermen Force Russia to Postpone Naval Drills
US sanctions in case of invasion of Ukraine could completely destroy Russia's economy, NYT reports
