Translator’s note: Sergei Sternenko, former head of the Odessa branch of the Right Sector fascist movement, killed one man and wounded another in an altercation on May 24, in what appears to be infighting among the city’s far-right ultra-nationalist groups.
After being hospitalized in Odessa, Sternenko soon fled to Kiev. There is mounting evidence that Odessa officials, including Regional Gov. Maxim Stepanov, who previously bailed out the fascist, are protecting Sternenko from investigation.
Presented here is a selection of articles from Timer, one of the few surviving Ukrainian news sources with an anti-fascist perspective.
Fountain massacre: what do we know a day later?
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| The body of Ivan Kuznetsov, slain by Right Sector’s Sergei Sternenko. Photos: Timer-Odessa.net |
According to the sources of TIMER in law enforcement agencies, both men have a certain criminal background: they were activists of one of the semi-criminal structures (headed by a certain Alexander P.), participating in various criminal trials, including wearing masks for various “patriotic actions.” On this basis, our sources believe that the statements of Sternenko that the men attacked him on somebody’s order may be true.
The investigation has now officially established that the injuries to all three participants in the clash were caused by the same weapon. In a video published by Sternenko immediately after the events, he confirms that the knife belonged to him (i.e., the attackers were unarmed). Subsequently, Sternenko removed the video and now denies that the knife was his: he claims that during the fight he took it from one of the attackers. The police are skeptical of these statements.
However, even if the knife belonged to Sternenko, it could still be said that the murder took place within the framework of self-defense, even without exceeding the limits of this: The Criminal Code of Ukraine gives citizens the right to use weapons in case they were attacked by a group of persons.
Sternenko’s main problem is different. According to preliminary information, based on the inspection of the scene and the nature of the wounds received by the victims, Sternenko inflicted a fatal wound to the dead man after both attackers fled. The fact that Sternenko rushed in pursuit of one of the assailants is confirmed by his girlfriend on the remote video, and the same is said by witnesses interviewed by the police. Moreover, the nature of the wounds found on the body of the deceased, is such that with them, in principle, he could not escape. And this means that these injuries were incurred after the flight — in a situation that precludes the interpretation of what happened as self-defense on the part of Sternenko.
In other words, the actions of Sternenko during the first part of the events as a whole fit within the scope of the Criminal Code. However, by rushing after in pursuit of the assailant and finishing him off, Sternenko still committed a serious crime.
According to TIMER, the police and the prosecutor’s office, as of the morning of May 25, came to the conclusion that Sternenko should be suspected of a murder. However, given the political context of the situation, law enforcement officers do not dare to take such a decision without consent of higher authorities.
TIMER is closely following the developments.
Activist-killer left Odessa
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| Fascist Sternenko in the hospital. |
According to him, in Odessa he simply could not receive appropriate treatment: in particular, Sternenko claims that he was refused medical care at the Jewish hospital, so he had to go to one of the capital’s clinics.
Sternenko claims that Kiev doctors diagnosed him with a lot of problems with his wounded hand, which will require long treatment. In general, the activist does not seem to be returning to Odessa in the near future.
Stepanov does not regret his pledge for the activist-murderer: if everything was repeated, I would do the same
May 29: Chairman of the Odessa Regional State Administration Maxim Stepanov said that people are trying to “discredit” him in connection with the case of the local right-wing radical Sergei Sternenko, who recently stabbed a man.
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| Odessa Regional Governor Maxim Stepanov |
