Threatened police officers and boasted of status: Mykolaiv prosecutor dismissed after scandal in cafe

The prosecutor of the Mykolaiv district office was dismissed for ethics violations. Illustrative photo: Mykolaiv District Prosecutor's Office

The disciplinary commission dismissed Viacheslav Tsariuk from his position at the Mykolaiv District Prosecutor's Office after a scandal in a cafe. There, he behaved aggressively, threatened police officers and repeatedly emphasised his official status.

This is evidenced by the decision of the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors, according to NikVesti.

According to the Commission, on 2 May this year, in the evening, in a pizza restaurant, Viacheslav Tsariuk behaved inappropriately and ignored the staff's requests to calm down. The staff called the police.

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The footage from the law enforcement officers' surveillance cameras and body cameras showed the prosecutor swearing and insulting the customers and police officers. He repeatedly stressed that he worked for the prosecutor's office, called his alleged superiors and acquaintances in the security forces, and threatened police officers with dismissal and deprivation of bonuses.

«Also, while communicating with the officers of the Security Police Department, Tsariuk V.V. threatened them with dismissal and deprivation of bonuses, repeatedly emphasised his status as a prosecutor and the possibilities associated with personal connections... And his behaviour showed signs of intoxication», the document says.

During the internal investigation, Tsariuk explained that he had come to the cafe to buy a pizza. According to him, after paying, he felt sick due to blood pressure and heart problems. He allegedly asked to use the toilet to take some medicine, but was refused, which provoked the conflict.

The prosecutor admitted that he had consumed alcohol — two glasses of beer. However, he claimed that his behaviour was provoked by the café staff and police officers. He acknowledged the tactlessness of his reaction and asked not to be dismissed, as he was raising his son and caring for his mother with a disability.

Nevertheless, the disciplinary commission concluded that Tsariuk had violated the norms of professional ethics and discredited the prosecution authorities, and therefore decided to dismiss him.

«The Commission took into account that Tsariuk actually used his official status by providing the police with a prosecutor's certificate, which, given the video recording studied, was intended to influence police officers to avoid responsibility», the decision says.

Earlier it was reported that the High Council of Justice dismissed the head of the Pivdenoukrainsk court, Oleksandr Savin, who was driving drunk.