Ukraine: Activists rally in Kyiv February 4 /update 1

Event

A demonstration was organized near the Presidential Administration on Bankovaya and Institutskaya streets in Kyiv at 19:00 (local time) on Monday, February 4, to demand justice for the murder of prominent anti-corruption activist Kateryna Handziuk. Around 100 people gathered in the area, calling for President Petro Poroshenko to dismiss officials suspected of ordering Handziuk’s murder. While the demonstration passed off peacefully, further rallies are likely in the coming weeks if activists believe the government has not made acceptable progress in the investigation.

Context

Handziuk was a well-known anti-corruption activist and advisor to Kherson’s mayor. She died on November 4, 2018, after an attacker threw acid on her outside of her home in Kherson in July. Handziuk suffered severe chemical burns on 30 percent of her body and was undergoing treatment in Kyiv before passing away. Officials arrested six people in connection to the attack.

Advice

Individual in Ukraine, particularly in Kyiv, are advised to monitor the situation and avoid all protests as a precaution.