Bohdan Khmelnytskyi — human rights defender or Maidanuk’s trojan horse? Part 1

Operational services are also aware of the robbery of a family of migrant workers from Uman. They had dealings with Maidanyuk, who hails from Uman. He knew the family was returning from work in Europe, bringing cash with them. Miraculously, the couple survived: they were robbed at home immediately after returning from abroad. Unfortunately, this fact could not be included in the case: the crime was never solved.

On the other hand, «Coercion to fulfill civil-legal relations» was definitely on the table for Maydanyuk. In 2000, he and his accomplices beat up a car mechanic at a service station, allegedly for poor service. Perhaps they just didn’t want to pay for the work. By then, Maydanyuk was already working with another powerful group, «Pryshch.» Following the mechanic’s complaint, Maydanyuk was detained along with his accomplice Pryimak. Two pistols (one combat-ready) and two knives were seized from them. The brothers-in-arms spent time in a detention center but managed to wriggle out once again. Later, Maydanyuk claimed to be a victim of political persecution. No one bothered to verify this: it’s clear to everyone – here he is, a victim of the criminal regime...

Maydanyuk himself not only doesn’t hide his criminal past but even boasts about it. In an interview prepared «for the elections» and posted on the website of an organization named after its leader, he openly shares with a journalist: «I have nothing to hide; I really spent 4 years in prison on false charges. I never thought this could happen to me – after all, I didn’t break the law. But it happened – I was set up.»

Who could have set him up in 2000, and who needed him?

In 2004, an armed attack was carried out on Maydanyuk. He was wounded and went underground. The reason for the attack is known only to members of his gang and representatives of the criminal underworld. Here’s what happened: Maydanyuk’s gang stole a car from a criminal authority, which goes against the thieves’ code. The thieves demanded the car be returned, but the young lawbreakers refused, disregarding the code. As a result – a gunshot wound to the leader.

In the same year, 2004, the robbers seized a jeep belonging to a businessman from Uman. «Snake» and his fellow townsman from Uman, nicknamed «Boar,» were involved in the crime. Both were arrested in 2005. It seemed this time they wouldn’t get away... But the remaining gang members who were still at large began actively pressuring the victim... and the case fell apart. After this, Maydanyuk realized that next time he might not be so lucky and decided to change his specialization. He changed his surname, declared himself a human rights activist, and started appearing on television broadcasts.

A person with a criminal background playing the role of a human rights activist on Shuster’s show – such miracles are possible only with money, and not a small amount. At that time, Maydanyuk didn’t have significant sources of income, and you can’t make millions from robberies. However, the «human rights» business requires expenses for an office, media support... Moreover, after creating his own organization, Maydanyuk launched an online television channel called «Hrom TV» on its basis. This is also a significant expense. We will talk about this project a bit later.

It should be noted that Maydanyuk-Khmelnytskyi made his way into big politics and onto TV screens with the help of new acquaintances. The last time he spent six months in a detention center, his supporters turned out to be a bandit named Mokrytskyi – «Mokryi,» who is suspected of organizing an acid attack on a Kyiv politician. The second cellmate was a fraudster, Denys Tsypin.

The latter introduced himself as a lawyer for the «Coalition of Participants of the Orange Revolution» to developers who were in conflict with residents of a building in central Kyiv. The fraudster promised to «resolve» the issue for 25 thousand dollars... and disappeared as soon as he received the money. Today, they are the closest associates of Khmelnytskyi-Maydanyuk. Tsypin unsuccessfully tried to get into the Rada in 2012. Obviously, he was trying to avoid criminal liability for a 2010 case. Failing to obtain a deputy’s mandate, Tsypin ended up in a detention center – he was suspected of kidnapping and extorting 500 thousand UAH. By the way, Tsypin ran for office in Slovyansk. And his assistant was... the current leader of the Slovyansk separatists, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov. This speaks volumes about the political orientation of Maydanyuk’s inner circle.

There is a persistent impression that after his time in detention, someone influential began «promoting» Maydanyuk. All these TV appearances, press conferences, and sensational stories – this couldn’t have happened without the support of a powerful ally. Who was this «ally»? In fact, the hand of a behind-the-scenes pusher can still be felt today: a criminal and supporter of the ousted regime ending up on an electoral list led by a prime minister doesn’t happen by accident. We have an explanation for the unprecedented rise and constant buoyancy of Maydanyuk-Khmelnytskyi, despite changes in power and political moods. We are ready to share our conclusions with our readers. 

To be continued...