Ukrainian Officer Detained in Monaco Bombing Case

A Ukrainian court has ordered two men held in custody on charges of killing 39-year-old Anastasia Berezovska. Interpol had been searching for Berezovska in connection with a 29 June bombing in Monaco, in which Ukrainian real estate developer Vadym Yermolayev, his partner and his son suffered serious injuries.

Berezovska's body was found near Kyiv with gunshot wounds to the head. According to the prosecutor general, a court in Kyiv ordered the suspects held without the possibility of bail. Those detained include an active-duty officer of Ukraine's Military Intelligence Service (HUR) and a former police officer.

Ukrainian media reported that the HUR officer later retracted his initial confession. He now claims the second defendant shot the victim and that he had confessed only under pressure and out of fear for his own life.

Authorities in Monaco had been searching for Berezovska on charges of attempted murder, criminal conspiracy and planting an explosive device. Yermolayev, the target of the attack, obtained Cypriot citizenship seven years ago.

(Reuters, Max)