Law enforcers identified members of an organized criminal group who, during the occupation of the Luhansk region, illegally detained citizens. This was reported by the press service of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Law enforcers found out that in April 2014 a resident of Lysychansk, being part of the so-called Cossack National Guard of the Don Army named after M.I. Platov, organized and headed a criminal group. It consisted of three people from this illegal armed group.
“The defendants in the case, under the pretext of violation the so-called “curfew” by citizens, threatened them with automatic firearms and physical violence while being drunk or for other reasons, then abducted and detained them. Five victims have now been identified,” the statement says.
The perpetrators illegally detained the victims and held them in the administrative premises and on the plant. Citizens were forced against their will to dig trenches, build fortifications, erect protective barricades in Horne town area, thus fulfilling the strategic and tactical tasks of the occupation forces.
During authorized searches at the place of residence of members of an organized criminal group, law enforcement officers found and seized explosives weighing about 210 kg, two RPG-22 anti-tank rocket grenades, ammunition and the like.
At present, investigators are conducting pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings on the facts of illegal imprisonment and kidnapping, participation in the activities of illegal armed formations, illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives, conducting an aggressive war, violation of the laws and customs of war.
