The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine confirmed that four individuals suspected of attempting to assassinate Radoje Zvicer, leader of the Kavač criminal clan, in Kyiv five years ago remain in custody while the Kyiv court reviews the indictment against them.
Background of the Case
On May 26, 2020, the suspects allegedly ambushed Zvicer in an upscale district of Kyiv, seriously wounding him. Ukrainian police subsequently arrested:
- Stefan Đukić (Montenegro)
- Emil Tuzović (Montenegro)
- Petar Jovanović (Serbia)
- Milan Branković (Serbia)
According to the Prosecutor General’s office, the suspects are being tried for attempted murder, participation in a group planning the crime, and illegal possession of weapons. Additionally, one Montenegrin citizen faces charges related to document forgery or misuse.
Human Rights Concerns
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Ukraine violated the human rights of the suspects, citing excessive pretrial detention. The case, “Jovanović and others v. Ukraine”, involved two Serbian and two Montenegrin nationals. The ECHR found that the three—Đukić, Jovanović, and Branković—had been held in custody for five years, one month, and eight days, exceeding acceptable limits under Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
As a result, the court ordered Ukraine to pay €3,900 in compensation to each of the three affected suspects. Emil Tuzović’s situation was not addressed in the judgment.
Current Status
The Podilskyi District Court in Kyiv continues to process the indictment. Zvicer, who was severely injured during the attack, left Ukraine after treatment, and is currently being sought by law enforcement agencies in multiple countries.
