Arrest Warrant Issued for Nelia Shtepa
The Kyiv District Court of Poltava has issued an arrest warrant for Nelia Shtepa, the former mayor of Sloviansk. She faces charges of undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity and establishing a terrorist organization. The case, which dates back to 2014, saw a hearing on April 6 where the prosecutor requested the warrant due to Shtepa's consistent failure to appear in court and her unknown whereabouts. The court has instructed the Sloviansk police department to execute the warrant, and the proceedings are suspended until she is located. Shtepa, who will turn 66 this year, served as mayor of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast from 2010 to 2014.
Health Status and Judicial Proceedings
Earlier this year, a forensic medical examination revealed that Shtepa has a cancer diagnosis. Her lawyer stated she is undergoing intensive chemotherapy and has temporary functional limitations. This case is one of many from the early stages of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Prior to the full-scale invasion, the case was heard by the Ordzhonikidze District Court of Kharkiv, presided over by Judge Olena Hlibko. In March 2022, the Head of the Supreme Court ordered a change in the case's territorial jurisdiction, transferring it to the Kyiv District Court of Poltava. Judge Hlibko retired of her own accord in April 2023.
On February 9, 2021, Nelia Shtepa requested that 50 defense witnesses be summoned to court. The list of requested witnesses included prominent Ukrainian political figures:
- Serhiy Taruta
- Serhiy Pashynskyi
- Valentyn Nalyvaichenko
- Arseniy Yatsenyuk
- Petro Poroshenko
The court ruled to permit the questioning of all witnesses named by both the prosecution and the defense.
Shtepa was detained in July 2014, and on October 8, 2014, she was formally charged under Part 3 of Article 110 (encroachment on territorial integrity) and Part 1 of Article 258-3 (creation of a terrorist group) of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. The prosecution states she faces a potential life sentence. Shtepa maintains her innocence, denying she organized separatist activities in support of the so-called 'Donetsk People's Republic.' She claims that on March 5, 2014, she organized a 'Sloviansk – For Ukraine' rally and, 12 days before Sloviansk was seized, sent 72 telegrams to central government authorities.
The legal proceedings involving Nelia Shtepa highlight the complexity of prosecuting political figures in Ukraine, particularly in cases stemming from the 2014 conflict in the east. The protracted timeline of the trial and changes in court jurisdiction underscore the challenges faced by Ukraine's justice system during a period of war and political instability.In light of ongoing investigations into political figures in Ukraine, the recent developments surrounding Nelia Shtepa's arrest warrant resonate with other high-profile cases. For instance, the conclusion of a probe into Yulia Tymoshenko over alleged electoral misconduct highlights the broader issues of accountability in the country's political landscape. To explore the implications of these investigations and their impact on Ukrainian politics, read more about the case against Tymoshenko here.