Interior Minister on death of Kryvy Rih mayor: Suicide preliminarily established, facts of serious abuse found in the city

KYIV. Sept 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denys Monastyrsky has said that the preliminary investigation says about the suicide of mayor of Kriyvy Rih Kostiantyn Pavlov – the audit of the city’s budget revealed serious abuses.

"The death of the mayor, like any official of this level, is always a path to politicization, no matter how we want to avoid it. Especially at the local level, where a change of elites will take place in this regard," the Interior Minister said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

Answering the question whether pressure is being exerted on the investigation in this case, the minister assured: "I want to say that there is no pressure on the investigation today."

According to him, the police will give information on the causes of Pavlov’s death in the near future.

"Preliminary, we can talk about suicide. The factors that became the motive for this suicide should be voiced by the investigation. But there are external factors that have already been established: a number of large-scale inspections were carried out, the city’s budget was audited and serious abuses were discovered," Monastyrsky said.

In this context, the minister added: "This is one of those moments when a person who signed the financial documents could be held accountable. In this case, the mayor."

As reported, Pavlov’s death became known on the evening of August 15. The National Police of Ukraine opened criminal proceedings under Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (premeditated murder).

The investigation is considering three main versions of the incident: murder, suicide, and careless handling of weapons. The version of incitement to suicide is not excluded.

It is noted that one wound from the Saiga rifle was found on the body of the deceased. The weapon seized at the scene was sent for a comprehensive examination.