A few recent months have been difficult for Oleksandr Markushyn, the mayor of Irpin. He has been under house arrest for almost three months, having spent more than a week in a pre-trial detention centre before that. The mayor’s problems were caused by the accusation about the organization of illegal trips abroad, made by Volodymyr Karpliuk, a famous builder.

Markushyn’s lawyer says that his client is facing a maximum penalty for a possible administrative offence — up to 7 years of imprisonment.

This case, which Markushyn is calling “a political put-up job”, has become widely publicized not only due to the inadequacy and selectivity of the justice system but also due to the fact that he proved himself to be a worthy leader of his community during the battles for Irpin.