Former Law Enforcement Officer Detained in Anastasia Berezovska Murder Case

Court Decision on Vitaliy Zhykovych

According to Главком: Kyiv's Pechersk District Court has ordered the pre-trial detention of Vitaliy Zhykovych, the second suspect in the murder case of Anastasia Berezovska. The ruling mandates 60 days in custody with no option for bail. While the prosecution pushed for this measure, the defense argued for round-the-clock house arrest with electronic monitoring. The court ultimately sided with the prosecution's request.

Case Details

Zhykovych, a former law enforcement officer, is originally from Azerbaijan according to the prosecutor. He is acquainted with Vladyslav Reut, an employee of the Main Intelligence Directorate. In 2014, Zhykovych was a member of the Right Sector group, and after the full-scale invasion began, he voluntarily joined the territorial defense forces. He also served in the Security Service of Ukraine before being dismissed.

Investigators believe Zhykovych and Reut were involved in the killing of Anastasia Berezovska, who is suspected of carrying out an assassination attempt on businessman Vadym Yermolayev in Monaco. If found guilty, both suspects face life imprisonment. The investigation also noted that a basement in Zhykovych's home may have been used as a torture chamber. Earlier, the court ordered Reut to be held in custody without bail.

Zhykovych's lawyer, Ivan Ivanov, stated that his clients 'worked to defend Ukraine' and highlighted the need to 'dig deeper' into the case, underscoring its complexity. The investigation will continue, and court hearings will proceed in accordance with current legislation.

This case has drawn public attention due to its ties to a high-profile murder and the involvement of former law enforcement officers who actively served the country. The decision to impose pre-trial detention reflects the seriousness of the charges and the authorities' intent to ensure a secure investigation. Future court proceedings may reveal additional details and shape public opinion on law and order in Ukraine.

As the investigation unfolds, the connections between the suspects and their pasts raise significant questions about the circumstances surrounding the murder. Notably, a similar case involving a GUR officer has also come to light, where a member of the intelligence community was detained for the murder of a woman linked to an assassination attempt in Monaco. For more details on this related incident, you can read about it here.