Society

Shocking murder in Odesa: activist Hanul shot dead after May 2 verdict

On the morning of Friday, March 14, unknown persons shot a man in Odesa. The murder took place in the middle of the street – on Ukrainian Heroes Avenue (Oleksandrivskyi Avenue), Komersant ukrainskyi reports, citing local Telegram channels and the National Police.

The network says that the man was running away, and two shots were fired. The deceased is a volunteer, former head of the Right Sector power bloc in Odesa, and a participant in the events of May 2, 2014, Demyan Hanul.

It should be noted that Ganul was killed the day after the court ruling on the events of May 2 in Odesa.

“A report that an unknown man had shot a passerby in the Primorsky district of the city was received by the special line 102 today at about 10:30. The shooter fled from the crime scene. The victim died. All the circumstances of the crime are currently being established by the investigative team of the territorial police unit and forensic experts,” the police said in a statement.

A video showing the moment of the murder of activist Demian Hanul was posted online.

The footage shows how an unknown man first shoots Hanul, and then makes another “control” shot in the head.

All this happens in broad daylight and in front of passers-by who do not even try to run away or intervene to stop the killer.

Warning: The video is not recommended for minors and people with sensitive psyches!

Law enforcement is identifying the shooter

Currently, law enforcement officers have specific clues regarding the murder of activist and volunteer Demian Hanul in Odesa. The investigation will be carried out by the investigative team and forensic experts of the Central Office of the National Police. This was stated by Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko during an hour of questions to the government.

“I was informed of the information that has been collected so far. There are specific clues. Police operatives and investigators are working to identify the shooter and detain him. I would also like to note that the information that the shooter was wearing a military uniform is not true,” Klymenko said.

A National Police regiment headed by its chief Ivan Vygivskyi was also sent to Odesa.

“Regarding the murder of citizen Hanul in the city of Odesa. I am taking personal control of the investigation and solving this crime,” Klymenko said.

Law enforcement is currently looking for the man who shot the activist. The police published a photo of the suspect.

“Dear citizens! If you have any information about the whereabouts of the man in the photo, please report to the police by phone: (380) 732555126 (380) 949498364 or by calling the special line “102,” the statement reads.

The incident is classified as a premeditated murder committed to order.

In a comment to TSN.ua, his sister said that the activist was constantly threatened.

“He was constantly threatened, constantly. I don’t know a person who loved Ukraine more than Demian. He was killed for being a patriot, for defending Ukraine,” Lilia said.

What is known about activist Demian Hanul, who was shot dead in Odesa

Demian Hanul is a Ukrainian public figure, volunteer, blogger, animal and environmental activist. He is the founder and head of the NGO Street Front, a participant in the Revolution of Dignity and the May 2 confrontation in Odesa against pro-Russian forces. He was the former leader of the Right Sector power bloc in Odesa (2014-2016).

Demian was born on October 6, 1993, in the Kirovohrad region. He studied at the Faculty of History of Odesa Ushynskyi Pedagogical University. He worked as a methodologist at Artek.

Until 2014, he was a member of the Odesa branch of the Right Sector, leading the so-called “power bloc”. After leaving the Right Sector, he founded the right-wing radical organization Street Front, which lasted until 2019. Activists organized actions and attacks against pro-Russian forces in Odesa and the region. The organization’s members considered it their duty to confront the “scoop and the Russian fifth column.”

Pro-Russian parties have repeatedly accused Ganula of organizing the clashes in Odesa on May 2, 2014, near the Trade Union House. Ganula also often participated in clashes around the scandalous beach developments in Odesa.

Recently, Ganula has been volunteering, actively “fighting” against those who criticized the mobilization. The most scandalous case occurred this summer, when Hanul beat up an Odesa fitness trainer after he criticized the TCC. After that, the trainer disappeared and was probably found in the ranks of the Armed Forces.

As a reminder, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled on the tragic events of May 2, 2014 in Odesa, which resulted in the deaths of 48 people. The court recognized that although the events were largely provoked by Russian propaganda, the Ukrainian authorities also committed serious violations for which the state must now pay compensation to the victims.

Separately, the ECtHR noted that many of the Odesa officials responsible for the violations subsequently fled to Russia and received Russian citizenship. In particular, the deputy head of the regional police, Volodymyr Fuchezhi, and the head of the regional department of the State Emergency Service, Volodymyr Bodelan, who personally gave instructions not to send fire trucks to the scene of the tragedy.

According to the court’s decision, Ukraine must pay 15 thousand euros to the relatives of each of the victims and 12 thousand euros to the three surviving plaintiffs who suffered serious burns. The largest compensation of 17,000 euros will be paid to the daughter of Mikhail Vyacheslavov, who died in the Trade Union Building – the authorities unreasonably refused to give her her father’s body for burial for a long time.

It is worth noting that Russia was not a party to the lawsuit in this case, despite its role in fomenting the conflict, as recognized by the court.

Events in Odesa on May 2, 2014

on May 2, 2014, mass riots took place in Odesa, which began on Greek Square and ended on Kulykove Pole. The confrontation took place between pro-Ukrainian activists, including ultras, Euromaidan activists and the Right Sector, and pro-Russian activists who supported the idea of federalization of Ukraine. The unrest escalated into a tragedy that left 48 people dead and over 200 injured.

The confrontation began with a peaceful march “For the Unity of Ukraine”, which was attended by about two thousand people, including football fans of Chornomorets and Metalist. On Hretska Square, the column was attacked by about 300 pro-Russian activists armed with sticks, stones and firearms. During the clashes, the first two activists of the pro-Ukrainian camp were killed.

The clashes on Hretska Square quickly escalated into large-scale violence. Both sides used stun grenades, Molotov cocktails and stones. The police, who were between the opposing sides, did not actually intervene, which allowed the conflict to continue. According to some reports, pro-Russian activists opened fire from the roof of the Athens shopping center.

After several hours of fighting, pro-Ukrainian activists forced the pro-Russian supporters to retreat to their camp on Kulikovo Pole. The pro-Russian activists’ tent camp was smashed and burned. Some of the rioters took refuge in the Trade Union Building, which was soon surrounded by pro-Ukrainian forces.

In the course of further events, a fire broke out in the Trade Union Building, the causes of which are still disputed. The fire spread rapidly, and 42 pro-Russian activists died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning or jumping from windows. Some of the gunmen fired from the building at pro-Ukrainian activists. According to eyewitnesses, the fire department arrived late, which complicated rescue operations.

Following the events of May 2, 172 people were detained, some of whom were later released. Ukrainian authorities and international organizations launched an investigation into the tragedy. However, the investigation was accompanied by numerous controversies, including accusations of inadequate response by law enforcement agencies and their possible collusion with pro-Russian activists.

The events in Odesa on May 2, 2014, became one of the most tragic in the modern history of the city and the whole of Ukraine. They had serious political consequences, deepened the split in society, and became one of the key episodes of the confrontation between Ukraine and pro-Russian forces in 2014.