Skeleton Racer Vladyslav Heraskevych's Challenge to Anatoliy Shariy
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has publicly challenged pro-Kremlin propagandist Anatoliy Shariy to come to Ukraine. Heraskevych, on social media platform X, proposed that Shariy travel to the country to personally deliver aid to the families of fallen Ukrainian athletes. This provocative invitation comes as Shariy remains in Spain, where he has lived since 2019, after being convicted in absentia by a Vinnytsia court to 15 years imprisonment for state treason.
Multiple Criminal Cases Pending
In 2023, Ukraine's Security Service formally notified Shariy of suspicion for state treason. Investigators allege he participated in producing and disseminating videos showing Russian military personnel interrogating Ukrainian prisoners of war. According to the investigation, Shariy was recruited for this collaboration by a career officer of the FSB's Fifth Service, M. Yu. Kosenko. A key figure in this case is Shariy's alleged accomplice in temporarily occupied Sevastopol, former head of the National Police's main directorate in Vinnytsia Oblast, Anton Shevtsov, who also received a treason suspicion in early 2022.
Separately, Ukrainian authorities have reopened a criminal case against Shariy for the corruption of a minor. The case, which dates back to 2017 when his sister, Elena Manchenko, first accused him of the crime, is being handled by the Obolon district department of the National Police of Ukraine. Information on this investigation was entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations on June 29, 2022. Manchenko currently resides in the Netherlands.
“Mr. Shariy, I invite you to Ukraine. Together we will deliver aid to the families of fallen athletes. What do you think of this proposal?”
Vladyslav Heraskevych
Shariy's response to this proposal is not yet known. Meanwhile, according to lawyer Mark Feigin, the criminal case under Article 156 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ('Corruption of Minors') has been renewed, and the National Police of Ukraine is actively investigating the matter. This public challenge places Shariy in a difficult position, as returning to Ukraine would mean immediate arrest.
The situation surrounding Anatoliy Shariy and his potential visit to Ukraine remains under close scrutiny, given the significant public resonance his actions have caused. Heraskevych's invitation appears to be an attempt to draw attention to the plight of fallen athletes' families while potentially increasing pressure on Shariy regarding his legal troubles. Any reaction from Shariy could influence the trajectory of his case, considering his legal status in Ukraine and prevailing public opinion. The development requires ongoing observation, as it may have significant consequences for both parties involved.