Today in the city court of Chernomorsk, Odessa region, the first (after the transfer of the case to another court) session on the resonant case of mass riots in Odessa on May 2, 2014.

The Trial Chamber stated that three defendants did not appear at the meeting, as well as the victims. Nevertheless, the hearing decided not to postpone.

Some of the defendants who, according to the court verdict, are constantly in custody, petitioned for infringement of their rights: they say that they are kept in a "cage" (in this case, plastic plastic). The court granted the motion, allowing these five defendants during the hearing to be in the hall, next to other participants in the trial.

Russians Evgeni Mefedov and Maxim Sakauovu, as well as Ukrainians - Sergei Dolzhenkov, Sergei Korchinsky and Vladislav Romanyuk - are allowed to sit next to lawyers without handcuffs.

Lawyer Artem Grushansky announced the dismissal of prosecutor Vladimir Dudkevich, arguing that the prosecutor's representative on February 8 ruled a new group of prosecutors. According to the lawyer, there are a number of reasons why this may happen, but none of them was indicated by the prosecutor in the resolution. Such actions the lawyer considers illegal. The court granted the request of a lawyer.

The Court intends to consider this case as quickly as possible and, in connection with this, plans to hold meetings several times a week.

True, the defendants and their lawyers do not agree with this decision. For example, Sergey Dolzhenkov said that their rights are violated: "We are supposed to walk and have a hot meal ...". His fellow defendants complained about the state of health and the impossibility of such frequent attendance at meetings.

As reported "FACTS", on May 26, the Court of Appeals of the Odessa region postponed the consideration of the case of mass riots on May 2, 2014 in the city of Chernomorsk (formerly Illichivsk, Odessa region). In the dock - 20 people, of whom five are held in jail.

Recall, May 2, 2014 in Odessa as a result of mass disorders involving pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists killed 48 and injured about 300 people. Clashes began in the center of the city, where several people were shot. Then pro-Ukrainian activists came to the Kulikovo field, where the tent camp of separatists was located. The tents caught fire, a fire broke out in the House of Trade Unions, which also killed people.

Alexander LEVIT, "FACTS" (Odessa).