An incident in Ostroh is once again drawing public attention. The city's mayor, Yuriy Yagodka, who beat a local activist while drunk because of her remarks about singing Russian songs, has finally decided to apologize to the woman, albeit only a month after the incident.
Ostroh Mayor Yuriy Yagodka apologized for beating a local resident while intoxicated on August 29, Defenders' Remembrance Day. Almost a month after the incident, on September 24, the official wrote on his Facebook page that he admitted his guilt.
Rivne Region Police Spokesperson Maria Yustytska said in a comment to Zaxid.net:
58-year-old local activist Lyudmila Frankovska told law enforcement that she was beaten by the city mayor Yuriy Yagodka. The woman claims that in the evening she passed by the local library, where the Center for Culture and Leisure is located, and heard Russian music from there. Frankovska went inside and saw a drunk Yuriy Yagodka there.
The local publication "Pro Rivne" clarifies that Yuriy Yagodka and his assistants sang "Oh, the viburnum is blooming in the field by the stream.".
After Frankovska made a remark to the mayor, the official allegedly reacted aggressively and attacked the woman with his fists. The victim wrote a statement alleging that she had been physically injured.
Today, Yagodka commented on the situation. He said that during this time he had thought everything over and drawn conclusions.
"Yes, my fault is that, to put it simply, I got drunk. My fault is that I behaved in a way that is not befitting a mayor, not befitting a public figure, and not befitting a man... This is not an excuse, because no amount of fatigue, moral pressure, or provocation justifies what happened. I apologize to those who voted for me in the 2020 elections, and to those who did not vote," the mayor .
He added that opponents are trying to use the scandal to their advantage, but according to the law, the mayor must wait until the elections to be re-elected.
Meanwhile, investigators have launched a pre-trial investigation under Part 1 of Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional minor bodily harm). The official faces a fine of up to UAH 850 or correctional labor.
Reference : Yuriy Yagodka has been the head of the Ostroh community since 2020. The official began his career in commercial banks of Ukraine. From 2005 to 2010, he was elected a deputy of the Ostroh district council, from 2007 to 2010 he worked as the head of the Ostroh district state administration, and in 2015 he became the village head of the Rozvaz village council. Since July 26, 2019, Yagodka has been the deputy mayor of Ostroh for the activities of executive bodies.
