Two more court rulings to appeal

On 14 June the Dzherzhynsky District Court in Kharkiv found two of the peaceful protesters detained by police in Gorky Park on 28 May guilty of disobeying a police officer (Article 185 of the Code of Administrative Offences]. Boris Zakharov was fined 170 UAH, and Henadiy Kovshyk – 136 UAH. Boris Zakharov said that while relieved that they had not imposed a term of administrative arrest, he considered the ruling to be unjust and will definitely appeal it. He noted that the police had been muddled in their testimony and that this had not matched the reports which they themselves wrote. He said that it had been absolutely clear to everybody, including the judge, that he had committed no offence and had not shown any resistance to police officers. He is adamant that a precedent is needed and that it is vital to ensure that in such cases the police are found to have acted wrongly. Henadiy Kovshyk is already planning to appeal.