A murder inquiry is underway after prominent Kharkiv businessman Yuriy Dement was cut down in a hail of bullets in an apparent assassination at his mother’s graveside.
Dement (52), a friend and colleague of Kharkiv Mayor Gennady Kernes, was found with 12 bullet wounds, including two to the head.
He appeared to have died in a hail of bullets at his mother’s graveside at the Jewish Cemetery No 3 and just 10 meters from the cemetery’s exit.
It is understood he was on his own and without a protection officer. He had been accompanied by his driver who had remained in the car.
Police were alerted to the body of a man being found at 9am today (Feb 26).
National Police officers, investigative team of the Moscow Police Department, dog specialists and operational police units were at the crime scene, said the press service of the Kharkiv’s regional National Police of Ukraine in Kharkiv region.
An abandoned pistol carbine, equipped with a flame arrester, was found in a search of the cemetery.
The fact of the incident is included in the Unified Register of pre-trial investigations on the grounds of crime under Article 115 Part 1 (premeditated murder) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Local media reported the murder scene was attended by the Kharkiv mayor Gennady Kernes and people’s deputy Mikhail Dobkin at about 10am.
Dement and Dobkin were known to organize fundraising events for Kernes’ operation in Israel.
