More Ukaine civic activists targeted with violence

Vitaliy Oleshko, a Donbas war veteran and civic activist
in the Azov port city of Berdiansk, was murdered by gunfire on July 31. Police
have arrested several suspects but have not established a motive, though it’s
widely believed to be related to his anti-corruption efforts against the city
council leadership. The same day, an activist and employee of the Kherson City
Council, Kateryna Handziuk, was attacked with acid thrown at her head,
resulting in her hospitalization. Police reported her attacker inflicted severe
injuries with the goal of intimidation. Recall on July 17, Vitaliy Shabunin,
the head of the Anticorruption Action Centre in Kyiv, was attacked with
antiseptic liquid thrown at his face for attempting to confront a politician.

Zenon Zawada: Unfortunately, civic activists continue to face violence under the
Poroshenko administration, which itself has been in fierce conflict with
activists like Shabunin, drawing sharp criticism from Western authorities. If
top politicians in Kyiv don’t demonstrate respect for civic activists, then
those on the lower ranks won’t either. If top politicians in Kyiv don’t
demonstrate respect for civic activists, then those on the lower ranks won’t
either. It’s likely that attacks on activists will intensify as the
presidential election campaign heats up ahead of the March vote.