Lviv's Shevchenkivskyi Court Sentences Vyacheslav Zinchenko to Life for the Murder of Iryna Farion, Orders 5 Million UAH Compensation

Judgment from Lviv's Shevchenkivskyi District Court

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: On October 1, 2024, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Lviv delivered its verdict in the case against Vyacheslav Zinchenko, who was charged with the murder of linguist and activist Iryna Farion. Zinchenko received a life sentence for intentional homicide under Part 2 of Article 115 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. Additionally, he was handed a four-year term for illegal weapons possession, as stipulated in Part 1 of Article 263. The court’s decision is subject to appeal within 30 days.

Evidence and Proceedings

The judicial panel, led by Chair Petro Nevoyta and judges Oleksandr Bayev and Pavlo Eder, reviewed the prosecution’s demands brought forward by Dmitro Petlʹovany and Olena Danylʹiv, who insisted on a life sentence. Zinchenko’s defense contested the evidence, while the defendant denied guilt and declined to make a final statement. During the trial, notes dated July 8, 2024, written by Zinchenko were presented, detailing a planned crime. Investigators also found personal information about Iryna Farion, including her home address, stored on his phone.

Operating under the alias "Paranoik," Zinchenko researched the purchase and modification of firearms and ammunition. From 2022 onward, he joined Telegram groups promoting violence and intolerance.

Zinchenko’s hostility toward Farion stemmed from her outspoken advocacy for the Ukrainian language. The murder occurred on the evening of July 19, 2024, on Masaryk Street in Lviv, where Zinchenko fatally shot Farion in the head before fleeing the scene.

Outside the courthouse on October 1, a crowd gathered demanding the harshest penalty for Zinchenko, chanting slogans such as:

• "Zinchenko is a traitor to Ukraine!"
• "Life imprisonment for Zinchenko!"
• "Glory to Iryna Farion!"
• "Iryna Farion is a Hero of Ukraine!"

The court also awarded 5 million Ukrainian hryvnias in civil damages to Farion’s daughter, Sofiya Osoba, though this was less than the 15 million UAH she initially sought. Sofiya announced that the compensation would be donated to support the "Rubizh" battalion, where her husband Vasyl Osoba serves. The trial began debating in April 2024 but faced multiple delays due to Zinchenko’s health issues, hunger strikes, changes in legal representation, motions to disqualify judges, and defense attorneys’ absences.

In his notes, Vyacheslav Zinchenko wrote: "While everyone organizes rallies, […], then peacefully disperses, I, quietly smiling, sharpened a knife before doing what millions desired. I am a cleaner of this society, but all because of personal animosity. […] I chose this path, so I will follow it to the end; otherwise, I cannot face myself in the mirror."

This verdict highlights the gravity of a crime fueled by both personal vendettas and ideological beliefs. The killing of Iryna Farion-known for her staunch defense of Ukrainian language rights-shocked the nation and ignited widespread public outrage. The ruling also underscores the critical importance of protecting civil liberties and may serve as a warning against violence and intolerance in society.