May 9, 2025, 3:45 p.m.
(Photo: Yulia Khimerik / facebook)
On May 9, a court in Odesa extended the arrest for 2 months for Serhiy Shalaev, who is accused of murdering activist Demian Hanul.
This information was confirmed to Intent by the press service of the Kyiv District Court of Odesa.
According to the court's decision, the suspect will remain in custody for another 60 days without the possibility of bail. The hearing was held in a closed session for security reasons. Earlier, Shalaev admitted his involvement in the crime, but his guilt has not yet been officially proven in court.
Thehigh-profile murder of the Odesa activist took place on March 14 in the Prymorsky district of Odesa. The man who shot Demian Hanul fled the scene. Within hours, police detained the suspect, 46-year-old Serhiy Shalaev, a former senior lieutenant. In the apartment where he was hiding, they found a weapon that was probably the instrument of the crime. The police opened a criminal investigation into the murder of the public figure. The incident was classified as a premeditated murder committed to order.
Investigators are considering three main versions of the crime: a contract killing organized by Russian special services, liquidation due to the activist's public activities, and personal animosity. However, the latter version, according to law enforcement officials, is unlikely, as the killer and the victim did not even know each other. The National Police is working on the investigation together with the SBU.
Earlier, the wife of Odesa activist Demian Hanul, Zhanna Voznyuk, commented on the murder of her husband and told what she said to him for the last time.
On March 19, activist Demian Hanul was laid to rest in Odesa. An Int'l photojournalist was present at the funeral ceremony.
Before that, Ganul had already reported that people posing as military officers tried to kill him.
Demian Hanul, who was 31 years old, was a well-known public figure, blogger and leader of the right-wing radical organization Street Front. In 2014-2016, he was the head of the Right Sector's power unit in Odesa. Hanul took an active part in the Revolution of Dignity and the clashes of May 2, 2014, opposing pro-Russian forces.
Ірина Глухова