Court upholds Pivdenoukrainsk mayor's position despite beating charges

The mayor of Pivdenoukrainsk remained in office. The court dismissed the investigator's motion, ruling that there was insufficient evidence.

This was stated in the recording of the court session published by Maria Drozdova.

The Arbuzyn District Court of Mykolaiv Oblast denied the prosecutor's motion to suspend the mayor of Pivdenoukrainsk, Valeriy Onufrienko, who is on trial for beating his deputy during a meeting.

On June 20, 2022, the police served Onufrienko with a notice of suspicion. According to the investigation, on March 3, during a meeting of the South Ukrainian City Council on the distribution of humanitarian aid, the mayor hit his deputy several times, causing her minor injuries. The same day, the woman filed a police report. He was charged under Article 350(2) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (threatening or violence against an official).

The same year, the mayor was fired, but later the Fifth Administrative Court of Appeal overturned this decision, and in April 2024, he returned to the mayor's office. Recently, the victim reported that he had pressured her and other employees, and the prosecutor filed a motion to remove him. One of the witnesses called by the defense did not appear and will be questioned at the next hearing.

The mayor's defense lawyer asked the court to request a recording of the hearing of June 14, 2024, where the victim testified. He explained that he wanted to conduct a phonoscopic examination of her voice to confirm the evidence. The judge agreed to consider this issue.

During the motion, the prosecutor noted that Onufrienko exerted moral pressure on the victim and other employees, which made it difficult for them to perform their duties objectively.

The defense counsel stated that there was no direct evidence of pressure, and that the deputies, not the court, should decide on the work of the mayor. The defendant himself supported the defense counsel, adding that most of the witnesses no longer work under his supervision.

Maria Drozdova asked the court to uphold the prosecutor's motion. She said that at work, she is subjected to active pressure, conflicts and humiliation, which negatively affects her health. She also noted that the mayor had been underestimating her bonuses due to personal conflicts for more than six months.

The judge, having examined all the evidence, dismissed the petition. The next hearing was scheduled for November 6.

At the same time, the official noted that the trial has been going on for four years, despite the law enforcement investigation. Maria Drozdova believes that the delay in the case is a deliberate attempt by the mayor to avoid punishment.

In August, the court ordered the police to open a criminal investigation based on a complaint filed by the deputy mayor of Pivdenoukrainsk, Serhiy Hornostai. He claims that the mayor, Valeriy Onufrienko, forged documents and illegally appointed an official, which allegedly caused the community to suffer losses. The court ordered the police to open a case on the facts of budget embezzlement and forgery.

Анна Літман