AZOU to Sue Animal Trainers

The Association of Animal Protection Organizations of Ukraine announced the start of legal proceedings against Russian animal trainers who had been touring Ukrainian circuses throughout 2013.

Kyiv Ecological-Cultural Center Director Volodymyr Boreyko stated that keeping animals in modern Ukrainian circuses violates the law. According to him, animal training involves violence: “trainers either beat animals, starve them, or deprive them of water.”

AZOU President Asya Serpinska called circus with animals “systematic violence” and described cruel training methods. She announced the launch of a national campaign against the use of wild animals in circuses.

The law firm “Spadshchyna-Kapital” sent requests to the General Prosecutor’s Office to bring criminal charges against trainers for animal cruelty.

Boreyko noted that in many countries the use of animals in circuses is banned or strictly limited, including Bolivia, Austria, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom.