A/HRC/45/CRP.8 2. Accountability for killings and violent deaths during the Maidan protests 74. While related trials continued to be delayed, the pre-trial investigations into four of the killings during the Maidan protests progressed, leading to the identification of five alleged perpetrators (four men and one woman). 75. On 18 February 2020, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported the arrest of an Internal Troops soldier in relation to the killing of a protester on 20 February 2014. After two months of house arrest, on 16 April 2020, he was released on bail. 76. On 18 June 2020, as part of in absentia proceedings, the SBI charged a former officer from the Berkut riot police unit in relation to the killing of 48 and attempted killing of 80 protesters on 20 February 2014. On 22 June, a court in Kyiv ordered pre-trial detention of the suspect in absentia.51 77. On 10 March 2020, the SBI arrested and charged a member of a criminal gang responsible for the abduction and torture of two Maidan protesters, which led to the death of one. On 12 March, another member of the gang was arrested. The court placed both men in detention, where they remained as of 31 July 2020. 78. On 10 April 2020, the SBI charged a Maidan protester with the intentional killing of a man in the office of the Party of Regions, which was set on fire amidst escalating violence in central Kyiv on 18 February 2014. On 16 April, the court placed her under round-the-clock house arrest. 79. OHCHR also notes that the Pecherskyi district court of Kyiv authorized the arrest of then President Yanukovych in criminal proceedings related to killings and violent deaths of protesters in Kyiv on 18 and 20 February 2014.52 The court also authorized the arrest of former members of his cabinet – the Minister of Defense and two heads of law enforcement agencies. According to the prosecution, this step should facilitate their extradition. 80. No progress was observed in the investigation of the killings of 13 police officers on 18 and 20 February 2014 in Kyiv. OHCHR notes that members of Parliament brought the socalled ‘immunity law’ before the Constitutional Court, claiming its unconstitutionality.53 OHCHR has recommended repeal of the law, as it hinders the investigation of the killings of the 13 law enforcement officers and prevents accountability for grave human rights violations.54 3. Accountability for killings and violent deaths in Odesa on 2 May 2014 81. There has been no significant progress in investigations of killings and violent deaths on 2 May 2014 in Odesa since HRMMU released the update to its briefing note in May 2020 on the state of accountability proceedings in these cases.55 Trial delays were exacerbated due to pandemic-related restrictions. 51 52 53 54 55 20 See Ruling of Pecherskyi district court of Kyiv of 22 June 2020 in case No. 757/25609/20-к. See Ruling of Pecherskyi district court of Kyiv of 12 May 2020 in case No. 757/16624/20-к. The ‘Law on prevention of prosecution and punishment of individuals in respect of events, which have taken place during peaceful assemblies and recognising the repeal of certain laws of Ukraine’, adopted by the Parliament on 21 February 2014, available at https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/743-18. See HRMMU, Briefing note on Accountability for Killings and Violent Deaths during the Maidan protests, 19 February 2019, para. 63, available at: www.un.org.ua/images/documents/4700/Accountability%20for%20Killings%20and%20Violent%20 Deaths%20During%20the%20Maidan%20Protest_2.pdf. See HRMMU, Briefing note on Accountability for Killings and Violent Deaths on 2 May in Odesa, 2019, available at www.un.org.ua/images/documents/4671/Accountability%20for%20Killings%20and%20Violent%20 Deaths%20on%202%20May%202014%20in%20Odesa_1.pdf. For the most recent update on the investigations, see also HRMMU, Accountability for Killings and Violent Deaths on 2 May 2014 in Odesa, 2020, available at www.un.org.ua/images/documents/4889/2%20May%202020%20ENG.pdf.