Protest Action 'Jail the Animal Abuser' Held in Kharkiv

A protest action “Jail the Animal Abuser!” was held outside the Frunzensky District Court in Kharkiv.

About 30 activists from AZOU, the Animal Aid League, and the National Corps participated in the rally. Participants held signs with slogans: “Jail the animal abusers!” and “Animal protection is a matter of human honor.”

Demonstrators demanded that court hearings be made public. The case concerns Marharyta Furman, who was accused of animal cruelty. Previously, the court had decided to hold hearings behind closed doors because the defendant was a minor. However, on March 25, 2017, she turned 18.

Mykyta Zhykharev was also involved in the case as a witness. The prosecutor demanded the lawyer’s recusal due to a conflict of interest. For a published video showing abuse of a kitten, Furman faced up to 5 years of restricted liberty.

The next hearing was scheduled for April 12.