Case of murdered Kherson activist Handziuk may be closed

The appeal hearing of the case of Kherson activist Handziuk has been going on for two years now, and there is a real threat of its closure due to constant delays. The family's lawyers insist on speeding up the process and a clear schedule of hearings.

This was reported by Miller Law Firm.

The lawyers of Kateryna Handziuk's family asked the court to speed up the appeal proceedings and set a clear schedule of hearings. At the same time, the defense of the accused opposed additional hearings, although their clients are ready to come to court every day.

Human rights activists noted that since the appeal began in November 2023, the process has been going on for almost two years. During this time, there have been numerous delays: one judge resigned, some motions of the defendants' lawyers were filed and withdrawn repeatedly, there were two attempts to release the defendants under the pretext of mobilization, and some witnesses were not even questioned in the first instance.

According to the company, the slow investigation of the investigative experiments is of particular concern: only 5 experiments were examined in four months, which is less than 20% of the evidence that the defendants' lawyers themselves requested to review. The court has scheduled new hearings for September 19 and 26 and for December 2025, which underscores possible attempts to delay the process.

The lawyers of the Handziuk family note that the longer the trial lasts, the higher the risk of the case being dismissed due to time limits, so they urge the public to follow the court and demand justice.

On August 1, a court hearing was held to consider appeals in the criminal case against the attackers of Kherson MP and activist Kateryna Handziuk.

Former head of the Kherson Regional State Administration Vladyslav Manger, one of the defendants who was chosen a preventive measure in the form of detention, expressed his desire to serve in the 129th Separate Tank Brigade. The court considered the possibility of his transfer to the brigade, as the unit commander had allegedly given his written consent, and the defense lawyers argued that there was no risk of escape in the army. At the same time, the 129th Brigade denied any connection between Manger and the unit, saying that he had no connection to the service there and would not have any.

Анна Бальчінос