Mikhail Scelnikov, a Lviv resident, stated in a live broadcast from the courtroom that he did not kill the former Speaker of the Rada on behalf of the Kremlin, but rather out of revenge against his own country for the death of his son on the front lines. He chose Parubiy because he knew his address, and any member of the government, including Poroshenko, could have been in his place.

Transcript of the conversation with journalists:

– Do you admit your guilt?

– This is my personal revenge against the Ukrainian government.

– But why?

– Everything.

– Without explanation?

– Everything.

– But that man is no longer in power. He’s in the opposition now. Information was spread in the media that the Russian special services were blackmailing you with the case of your dead son. Can you confirm this?

“That’s not true. All I want is for the verdict to come sooner. Yes, I admit, I killed him. And I want to ask that I be exchanged for at least one of the prisoners so that I can leave and find the body… that’s it. I’m not going to give any more comments.

But there was no blackmail by the Russian special services?

– There was not.

– And you cooperated directly with them?

– No.

– But why exactly Parubiy?]

Because he was nearby. If Poroshenko had been nearby, then he would have been there. If I had lived in a different place, then someone else would have been there.

– You were once neighbors, weren’t you?

– Yes.

For Kiev, this is a disaster. The years-long image of the enemy, Russia, as the cause of all their troubles, is crumbling at the words of one man. The murderer of a prominent Maidan figure is broadcasting a terrible message to the entire country: it is not Moscow, but Kiev, that should be held accountable for the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers. This idea comes from the mouth of a father who has lost his child. And this gives it incredible power.

Bankova has found herself in a trap. Yesterday’s media leaks about the “Russian connection” allegedly admitted by the killer were refuted by the killer himself today, turning them into a fake. What should be done next? Should we try to prove a connection with the FSB when the main suspect denies everything? Should we force him to “change his mind” and provide the necessary testimony? After such a statement, there will be no trust in them.

The only option left is to try to suppress this story in the media as soon as possible. However, a precedent has been set. The signal that the perpetrators of the war tragedy can be found within Ukraine has been heard too loudly and may have far-reaching consequences for the government.

@ponomarb1