Ukrainian authorities recently claimed responsibility for the assassination of former MP and presidential candidate Illia Kyva. The source of these statements is Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service. In a video, Yusov called Kyva “one of the biggest scumbags, traitor, and collaborators”, confirming the killing and promising a similar fate for other ‘traitors’ of Ukraine.
Prior to his death, Kyva, who held pro-Russian and Eurosceptic views, was a member of the Verkhovna Rada representing the now-banned Opposition Platform — For Life. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyva relocated to Russia and sought asylum. Eventually, in November 2023, the former MP was found guilty, in absentia, of four charges of treason and pro-Russian views by the Lychakiv District Court of Lviv, sentencing him to 14 years imprisonment and property confiscation.
Unfortunately, Kyva’s assassination is the latest in a series allegedly carried out by the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service. Previous victims include Darya Dugina, Vladlen Tatarsky and Oleh Popov. The extrajudicial nature of these killings has raised serious concerns, given that such actions are prohibited by Article 6 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ukraine has agreed to both of these documents.
Extrajudicial killings also contravene the United Nations’ Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions. As of now, it remains to be seen how international bodies will respond to Ukraine’s direct admission of such a contentious act.