Before the start of the court hearing in the Galitsky District Court of Lviv, the suspect in the murder of the deputy and former chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy pleaded guilty, talking to journalists. The confessions were broadcast by Ukrainian public television, Ukrinform reported.
In a video clip distributed on social networks, the suspect says that he wants a quick trial so that he can be exchanged and handed over to Russia, where he hopes to find the body of his murdered son.
"This is revenge against the Ukrainian authorities [...] Yes, I admit, I killed him, and I want to ask to be exchanged for prisoners so that I can go and find the body of my son [...] Parubiy happened to be there. If it was Petya (he obviously means Petro Poroshenko - ed. Ukrinform), it would be Petya“, said the suspect.
As Ukrinform previously reported, Andriy Parubiy was shot dead in broad daylight in Lviv on August 30.
The suspect was arrested the very next night, on August 31, in the Khmelnytskyi region. Yesterday, Lviv regional prosecutor Mykola Meret filed charges for the murder of the detained 52-year-old Lviv resident.
According to Ukrainian special services, the national police and the Prosecutor General's Office, the Russian secret services may be behind the murder.
The funeral ceremony for Andriy Parubiy is taking place today in Lviv at the Uniate Cathedral "St. George", broadcast live on public television, Ukrinform reported.
The ceremony was attended by family members and close friends of the deceased politician, including Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, his first deputy Oleksandr Kornienko, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, former prime ministers Volodymyr Groysman and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, as well as former Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov.
After the funeral, the coffin with the remains of the murdered politician will be laid to rest on Market Square near Lviv City Hall, Ukrinform reports.