Investigators identify three Russians involved in the imprisonment of Greek Catholic priests in Berdiansk

This was reported by zmina.info.

The texts of suspicions against Aleksandr Korneev, Yevgeny Svistunov and Denis Shekhovets were published on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office.

According to law enforcement officials, on November 16, 2022, the Russian military abducted both priests. Fr. Heleta was detained on the premises of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were taken to the occupied building of the Berdiansk police department, where they were illegally deprived of their liberty in a temporary detention center.

In December 2022, the “head of the 3rd Investigation Department of the joint group of Russian troops” Denis Shekhovets, in prior conspiracy with the deputy “military prosecutor” Yevhen Svystunov and the “military prosecutor of the garrison” Aleksandr Korneev, drew up documents with false information. According to them, the priests allegedly stored ammunition and explosives and collaborated with Ukrainian special services. In addition, Levitsky and Heleta were unlawfully granted the status of prisoners of war.

In March-August 2023, the priests were held in Berdiansk penal colony #77 and for two days in an unknown basement in Melitopol. They were subsequently imprisoned in the Kalinin Penal Colony in Donetsk Oblast, where they remained until their release. In the colony, Levitsky and Heleta were held in a room without enough beds, ventilation, and access to clean air. The priests were not provided with adequate medical care, particularly Heleta, who suffers from diabetes.

Both were subjected to physical violence and torture with electric shocks.

The priests were returned from Russian captivity on June 28 this year.