Ukrainian prosecutors have charged a high-ranking local official over a deadly acid attack on a prominent anti-corruption activist.<\/p>\n
The agony of Kateryna Handzyuk, 33, shocked Ukraine. She died from her burns in November, after more than 10 operations. She was attacked in July.<\/p>\n
Vladyslav Manger, head of the Kherson regional council in southern Ukraine, was charged with organising murder.<\/p>\n
His lawyer said no evidence had been presented against his client.<\/p>\n
Five other suspects are in detention.<\/p>\n
Larisa Sargan, spokeswoman for Ukraine’s chief prosecutor, said Mr Manger would have to appear before a judge in Kiev on Tuesday to face a detention order.<\/p>\n
The indictment accuses Mr Manger of ordering the murder because of “personal hostility towards her for opposing illegal logging” in the region. A guilty verdict could send him to prison for life.<\/p>\n
Investigators went to search Mr Manger’s home on Monday. His lawyer, Dmitry Ilchenko, said “the prosecution has presented no evidence” for the accusation.<\/p>\n
Mr Manger denied knowing Handzyuk personally or having any ties, telling a TV station he was “ready to answer all questions from investigators” and that he was “not going to go anywhere and will fully co-operate with the investigation”.<\/p>\n
Two other suspects – Sergei Torbin and Nikita Grabchuk – are in pre-trial detention in the case, and three more suspects are under house arrest.<\/p>\n
Human rights activists say there were more than 50 assaults on anti-corruption campaigners in Ukraine last year, including five murders.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"