Blogger, whose wife claimed his brutal beating, appeared unharmed and claimed a “special operation” (Updated)

Blogger Oleksandr Lesyk, who allegedly was brutally beaten for criticizing the mayor of Pryluky, Olha Popenko, appeared whole and unharmed and claimed there was a “special operation.”

(Updated) After the article was published, a video featuring Oleksandr Lesyk appeared. In it, the blogger looks without visible signs of beating and states that the incident was a “special operation” conducted to save his life.

It was reported that Oleksandr Lesyk was hospitalized as a result of the beating by Pryluky City Council member Yevheniia Averianova on her Facebook page.

Oleksandr Lesyk is known for consistently and harshly criticizing the local authorities and, in particular, Pryluky mayor Olha Popenko. For more than a year his content has been devoted to local politics: sharp criticism of the mayor, deputies, and municipal enterprises, etc.

It is also worth noting that since taking office, Mayor Olha Popenko has been in the orbit of Ukrainian parliamentarian Valeriy Dubil (Vo Svoboda/Batkivshchyna) with a highly controversial reputation. It is precisely the ties between Olha Popenko and Valeriy Dubil that a significant portion of Lesyk’s materials focus on.

Another scandal that was in the blogger’s focus was the criminal case against mayor Olha Popenko’s son, Yaroslav Popenco, who was charged with drug trafficking.

The case was repeatedly attempted to be hushed up, but due to the resonance, Yaroslav Popenco ended up in the dock. However, 28 in August, on the day Oleksandr Lesyk was beaten, Pryluky City Court stopped the proceedings against the accusation of Yaroslav Popenka because he was in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Although in court the defense lawyer for Yaroslav Popenka stated that his defendant “takes part in hostilities,” it is known that Soldier Popenko serves in Lviv region, and he mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine after a criminal case was opened against him for drug distribution at the children’s sports school where he worked.

Whether the facts of exposing the mayor Olha Popenko’s son, the systematic criticism of her involvement in corrupt actions, and the beating of Oleksandr Lesyk are connected will be established by the investigation. Currently the blogger remains in hospital in serious condition.

As stated by Yevheniia Averianova, who also actively covers corruption scandals around Pryluky’s mayor, she knows who exactly beat Oleksandr Lesyk.