Criminal cases opened against 20 participants in shootout over Kyiv bus routes

Twenty participants
involved in a May 29 shootout in suburban Kyiv town of Brovary have been
detained for two months without bail, Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov
tweeted on June 1. He vowed to detain the organizers of the crime, which was he
said was a conflict over routes between competing passenger bus transporters.
Criminal cases have been opened on attempted murder, illegal use of firearms,
intentional destruction of property, and hooliganism, the National Police said
its website on May 30. About 100 men participated in the shootout, which
resulted in three wounded. At least ten of those arrested had firearms and
hunting rifles confiscated from them, said Internal Affairs deputy minister Anton Gerashchenko on his
Facebook page. “Routes should be determined lawfully and honestly, and not
under the table and for bribes,” he wrote.

The conflict was
between rival groups from Brovary and Vinnytsia competing for the illegal bus
transport business, People’s Servant MP Oleksandr Kachura said on his Telegram
channel on May 29. These illegal transporters avoid paying taxes, technical
auto inspections, medical checkups of drivers, rental payments for routes and
don’t participate in tenders for routes, he said. Instead, they pay bribes and
kickbacks. The Vinnytsia group is alleged to be tied to Serhiy Chebotar, a
former deputy internal affairs minister, and his son-in-law, Oleh Polishchuk,
the pravda.com.ua news site said.

Zenon Zawada: This event has triggered the latest
refrains of “the 1990s have returned,” a reference to the ruthless criminal
activity of that era that permeated society. Critics of President Zelensky used
it to advance their narrative that he’s a weak leader who has allowed criminal
elements to proliferate at all levels of society. Yet it’s clear that Zelensky
has little sway over Avakov, who has been firmly entrenched as Ukraine’s police
chief for more than six years.

Several factors are
behind this conflict, including the economic difficulties brought by the
coronavirus pandemic. That an armed conflict of this scale erupted on
residential streets reflects an ongoing disregard for the law, a deep
corruption of law enforcement bodies (especially if Avakov and Chebotar have
ties to those involved) as well as heightened tolerance towards the use of
firearms, which likely is an indirect result of the ongoing war in Donbas.

Contrary to the
heightened fears, such conflicts have erupted at least annually in recent
years, and throughout Ukraine. They will continue to do so for as long as courts
don’t prosecute and sentence criminals, especially at the highest levels, and
as long as officials are allowed to indulge in corruption. When lawlessness
occurs at the top, it sends the message of permissiveness to those at the
bottom. It’s telling that the owners of the bus companies have yet to be
revealed or detained.