A 60-year-old man suspected of systematic domestic violence against his wife has been remanded in custody as a preventive measure. The motion to impose this measure was supported by prosecutors of the Pustomyty District Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the investigation, at the end of October and beginning of November this year, the man committed domestic violence against his wife on three occasions. Since the end of September, he was supposed to be under night-time house arrest more than 70 km from the woman’s place of residence, but during the day he would come to her, provoke conflicts, insult her, swear at her and threaten her with physical violence.
The investigation indicates that such behaviour kept the victim in constant fear, caused her emotional exhaustion and made her fear for her own safety. Since 2022, the man has already been held administratively liable for domestic violence six times and once criminally liable. In addition, he has twice been convicted of causing minor bodily injuries to his wife.
At present, three more indictments concerning domestic violence against his wife are pending before the court. Despite previous punishments and ongoing court proceedings, according to the investigation the man has not ceased his unlawful conduct. In early November he was notified of a new suspicion under Article 126-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (domestic violence). The suspect is currently in custody.
“No one should have to live with fear or threats in their own home. Asking for help is not a weakness, but the first step towards safety. Report incidents of violence, because silence creates an illusion of impunity for the abuser. The sooner law enforcement officers become aware of such incidents, the more opportunities there are to protect victims and prevent serious consequences,” noted the prosecutor in the proceedings, Yana Ivantsova.
The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by Police Department No. 1 of Lviv District Police Department No. 2 of the Main Department of the National Police in Lviv region.
Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt has been proved in the manner prescribed by law and confirmed by a guilty verdict of a court.