Oleksandr Turchynov: On the night from 18 to 19 February it was determined fates not only Maydan but the whole country

The investigation into the shooting of Maydan activists on 18 ‑ 20 February last year have to be brought to the court and perpetrators have to be taken to responsibility. This was announced by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov in the interview in the framework of a telethon on the channel "1 + 1".

He said that "it is proved, that Yanukovych over the then heads of the MIA Vitaliy Zakharchenko and the SSU Oleksandr Yakymenko gave orders to use weapons against protesters".

In addition, the Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine noted that the Security Service of Ukraine has evidence that officials from the Russian FSB advised former authorities during the bloody events in the center of the capital. So according to him in Ukraine there was a group of FSB officers, who trained at the "Alpha" base. "Together they worked out plans for Maydan localization. Moreover, the SBU has information that snipers, who opened fire, were also representatives of Russian structures", ‑ he stressed.

Oleksandr Turchynov said that there were hundred names of officials including V. Yanukovych, V. Pshonka, V. Zaharchenko in the case materials of crimes against Maydan. "The MIA conducts detention of direct participants of this process, the so-called Black Berkut, who performed these orders" ‑ he stressed.

The Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine noted that all these cases had to be brought to trial by the Minister of Internal Affairs and the General Prosecutor of Ukraine. In this context, he noted that "it is cynical that now those judges, who jailed opposition members and innocent people, have actually become advocates for the criminals who once hired them". "This is not only about the crimes committed by Yanukovych and his team. This applies to separatists, who are out on some formal matters" ‑ he underlined.

Oleksandr Turchynov said that security officials have already received orders to restrict travels of judges outside Ukraine by the end of the judiciary lustration.