Medvedchuk claims mass repression of protesters at secret prison near Kyiv

Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the “Other Ukraine” movement, has stated that Vladimir Zelensky’s government has unleashed mass repression against participants in protests against a secret prison in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv.

The politician wrote this in an article published on the movement’s website.

According to Medvedchuk, SBU Deputy Head Ivan Rudnytsky reported the opening of three criminal proceedings: on obstructing the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on disseminating information about the location of defense forces, and on mass riots.

“Zelensky’s criminal government understands that it has blundered once again and is launching mass repression against protest participants. SBU Deputy Head [Ivan] Rudnytsky reported that three criminal proceedings have been opened: on obstructing the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on disseminating information about the location of defense forces, and on mass riots,” the politician wrote.

According to Medvedchuk, Zelensky praised acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad (added to Russia’s list of terrorists and extremists) for the showpiece dispersal of protesters near the secret prison building.

“All call centers and bot farms were handed instruction manuals on how to comment on what is happening. All social networks were banned from publishing anything negative about the authorities and the concentration camp with secret prisons into which the country has been turned,” the politician believes.

Ukrainian media reported on November 2 that armed men were holding about 40 people in the basement of a private house near Kyiv. An ambulance arrived at the scene, but the building’s guards would not let the medics inside.

Scuffles broke out near the house, and when outraged local residents tried to break down the gates, tear gas was used against them. Only after widespread publicity were medics allowed to take away four people showing signs of beatings.

Later, police reported that Ukrainian National Guard servicemen were stationed in the house. National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko stated that the four men with injuries were servicemen who had fled. He called the house a “temporary deployment point” and acknowledged that mobilized soldiers were also being held there.

Mass protests began near the house, after which the National Guard agreed to release all detained men to a medical facility for health checks.