Latest / Shades of Murder / 52: Girl on Fire - Justice for Oksana Makar, Ukraine

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52: Girl on Fire - Justice for Oksana Makar, Ukraine · Shades of Murder

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On the morning of March 10th, 2012, in Mekhalai, Ukraine, a
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martyrs heard a soft moaning sound coming from an abandoned
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building under a charge sheet. He saw something slowly moving.
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When he lifted the sheet, the man discovered the naked and
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severely burned woman lying inside the basement of an old
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hospital. Her shocking, brutal story that
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would be revealed led to revolts against the corrupt institutions
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that helped perpetuate and ignore gender based violence.
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Who was this poor victim and what kind of monster left her to
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die burning alive? Hello and welcome to Shades of
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Murder. In this podcast, I discuss cases
1:22
of murder from around the world and throughout history,
1:26
attempting to unravel the layers of darkness that help make
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humans and monsters. Please be forewarned that each
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episode contains specific and at times very graphic and
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disturbing details of the case. This show is not intended for
1:46
all audiences and listener discretion is strongly advised.
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Ukraine is not immune to bizarre, horrific cases of
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murder. But in 2012 the country was
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appalled by several brutal crimes.
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A judge, his wife, their son and daughter-in-law were discovered
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all dead inside an apartment. Their heads were all missing.
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Their vicious assailants were never found.
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A four year old child was found dead in Sevastopol.
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The little girl had suffered a massive blow to her head.
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It would later be learned that she was beaten to death by five
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children aged 7 to 11. They killed her out of jealousy
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because their mother was taking care of her.
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A 25 year old woman was found in Kamyanka with several cuts on
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her head and legs. She had been beaten and was
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sexually assaulted and dogs had been set on her to attack.
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This woman lay in the street dying, begging for people to
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help her all night, but the residents were too scared to
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call the police. Yet these senseless,
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horrifyingly violent and notably bizarre crimes paled in
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comparison to the events that unfolded in March of that same
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year. This is the story of Aksana
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Makar. When this young woman was found
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abandoned at the old hospital, smouldering in flames, the
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stranger who found her contacted emergency services and she was
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immediately transported to the nearest hospital. 55% of her
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body had been burned. Barely alive, the young woman
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would face unimaginable pain and suffering from what she had
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endured the night before. The girl's kidneys had been
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burned. Multiple surgeries later, the
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girl had lost both of her legs and her right arm, but
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amazingly, she would live long enough to tell her story.
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She regained consciousness bravely after surgery, but then
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doctors placed her into an induced coma.
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The severity of her burns and the damage done to her lungs
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required that she be transferred to a specialist unit and done
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that sick for treatment. Initially doctors bleached her
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condition was improving and her prognosis was helpful.
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The victim was later identified as 18 year old Aksana Makar.
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She told the police about what had been done to her.
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The night before she had met two men at a bar in town called the
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Little Fish. They had all been partying
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heavily, drinking and toward the end of the night they convinced
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her to leave and go with them to one of their friends houses
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nearby. At some point, one of them made
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a sexual gesture to her, and when she showed a lack of these,
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three fun, outgoing young men turned into monsters.
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They held Oksana down and raped her, taking turns with this
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helpless, intoxicated woman. After they were done with her,
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she threatened to go to the police.
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One of the men grabbed a cord and began to strangle her.
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Oksana did everything she could, struggling to fight them off,
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but the man easily overpowered the young petite woman,
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believing she was already dead or close to it.
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They wrapped up her body and carried it to an abandoned
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building, lighting her a flame. She was burning alive.
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They had ignited her body into flames while she was still
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breathing. At some point, she regained
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consciousness. Oksana Makar, during her
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incomprehensible suffering, had identified her three rapists and
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her attempted murderers, leading to their prompt arrest.
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However, only one remained in custody.
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The prosecutor's office claimed that they did not have enough
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evidence to keep the other two men in jail.
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At this point, they were considered witnesses to the
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crime. Ukraine's Chief Police officer
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Vitali Zechenka quickly confirmed they were in fact the
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sons of former government officials.
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The suspect the police held finally broke his silence and
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confessed to what had happened that night.
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During his interrogation, the man told the police in gruesome
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detail. Oxana Makar was assaulted in a
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flat in the city. The men had then wrapped her in
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a blanket and abandoned her inside a pit within the
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abandoned hospital. He claimed that he only started
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the fire in an attempt to get rid of a pillow case that had
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been accidentally wrapped up inside the blanket with her.
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The three men then went to the supermarket to purchase more
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vodka and stopped for a tea at a kiosk.
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The interrogation video of suspect Yevgeni Karshak was
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published online by the Kiev Post on YouTube.
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It was viewed 100,000 times. On the first day, everyone could
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witness the young man speaking in graphic detail about how he
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raped and strangled this vulnerable young woman he had
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just met that night by chance. He said that he choked her first
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with his hands and then tightly wrapped a cord around her neck.
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The man was void of any emotion. He expressed no remorse, no
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regret or concern over the heinous crime he had committed.
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When the video of her news of the two men's released and
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complete lack of criminal charges hit the media, the
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community was outraged and they took to the streets.
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Protests erupted and Mikkelife and other regions of Ukraine,
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including Levyouf, Odessa and Harkiv, calling for the
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investigators to all be replaced.
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It refueled the public debate on the pervasive political
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corruption that existed in Ukraine and the lack of justice
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it had for its residents. Hundreds of people marched in
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the streets and in front of the judicial building to demand
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justice for Oksana Makar. The residents of Ukraine were
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tired of their voices being silenced.
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They would refuse to remain quiet over this brutal, sexual,
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violent act and horrendous death this young woman experienced.
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Especially in light of how many of them have been victims of
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abuse and violence, especially at the hands of the elite, what
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are referred to as mezzohors in Ukraine, the wealthiest, most
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powerful and influential businessmen and government
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officials and their sons have long been the subject of endless
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anger, criticism and controversy by politicians, civil activists
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and journalists. These men are known for using
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their status to do whatever they please because they know they
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will get away with it. A genetic businessman, Vladimir
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Calivico, during a drunk conversation with law
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enforcement officers, told them. And I quote when I want to, I
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snort cocaine when I want to, I shoot up when I want to, I drink
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when I want to, I drive when I want to, I have sex when I want
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to, I use my gun. One municipal council officer
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and Usgro even began a shootout in a crowded cafe, shouting to
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everyone that the cops couldn't do anything to him because he
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has good friends with the Uzgrod's police chief's son.
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Countless crimes and violent behavior have been covered up
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because at the time of these events, there was no
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accountability for those in power.
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When Iksana Makara was raped and murdered, the people would no
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longer accept inaction and injustice.
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Shouts amongst the angry residents shattered long
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existing silence. Your daughter could be next.
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They kill us on the roads and now they set us on fire.
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These three beasts don't have the right to walk.
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The earth that burned effigy was filmed in front of the district
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prosecutors office. The moment was plastered across
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every television station and newspaper.
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The murder and burning of Oksana Makar has set off a media circus
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unlike anything Ukraine had ever experienced.
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The leader of the country at this time, President Viktor
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Yanukovych, was shaken and upset by the people's outrage.
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He did his best to calm their anger by reassuring them that
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these rapists and maniacs who committed this crime would face
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justice. He immediately ordered a new
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investigation team to head to make a life.
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This led to the two previously released sons of former
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government officials to be rearrested on March 13th.
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All three suspects were charged with attempted murder and rape.
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These charges would later be changed though to Yevgeny
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Karzenachek being the only offender charged with murder.
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Both President and Viktor Yanukovych and Prime Minister
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Nikolai Azarov called for just punishment of the accused.
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They told the people no compromises, only with the
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knowledge that punishment is inevitable.
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With these monsters, fear to encroach on people's lives and
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rights. Aksana Makar struggled to
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breathe. Every moment of her existence
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had become complete agony. Upon the insistence of her
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mother, Tatiana Subravyatskia, she filmed from her hospital bed
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on YouTube her last moments. In this distressing video, she
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expresses her rage toward her assailants, telling the camera
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exactly how they deserve the harshest of punishments.
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The young woman is visibly uncomfortable and upset and
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tries to keep herself and her wounds covered, but her mother
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tells her not to. When Oksana starts to discuss
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what had happened to her, she suddenly stops breaking off and
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saying that she just can't do it.
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But her mother insists to say a couple of words to Ukraine.
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Oksana Makar calls for her rapist to be shot, castrated,
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they're balls fed to dogs. Or just send them to prison for
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life and see what happens to them there.
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When asked how she goes on, the young woman stared at the camera
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and simply said how I will live. I will live, that's all.
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This video received outrage for many viewers, seen as a second
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violation of Iksana Magar, this time by her mother.
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They didn't understand how or why the mother could force her
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daughter to put herself on video in the most severe, physical and
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traumatic state. Most viewers felt nothing but
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sympathy and compassion for young Oksana Makar, and hundreds
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donated money to help her mother with her medical care.
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Her mother was later accused of spending these funds on herself
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instead, and that she had reportedly been receiving money
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for interviews. In response, all her mother had
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to say was the press. Look at me, do I look like a
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rich woman? Tragically, the young woman's
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injuries were far too severe, and even though the doctors did
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everything imaginable to keep her alive, her body could not
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endure the damage. At only 18 years old, Oksana
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Makar's heart stopped beating due to the bleeding in her
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lungs. Doctors attempted to resuscitate
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her three times without success. On March 29th, almost 20 days
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after she was viciously assaulted and left to die in a
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fire, Oksana Makar drew her last breath.
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Her mother morbidly selected a wedding gown to bury her
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daughter in. The reason she gave for this was
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that thanks to the men who had killed her daughter Oksana, she
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would never be able to become a bride.
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In October 2012, the fate of all three of Oxana Makar's offenders
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would unfold. According to the prosecution,
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the three perpetrators had thrown a lit pillowcase on top
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of Oxana Makar's nude Unkar's body, and yet a piece of cloth
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was not capable of remaining on fire, much less in freezing
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temperatures for several hours. Yet, for some unknown reason, an
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expert was never commissioned to testify as to how the victim had
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received such horrendous burns. There was much speculation, but
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no evidence as to how Oksana Makar was lying in a fire when
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she was found. Although he initially confessed
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to strangling Oksana Makar during his interrogation video,
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Yevjini Krasnosek now claimed that he was not the one to choke
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her, or at least not in the way everyone thought.
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But according to Oksana's mother's lawyer, Yevgeny swore
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that he strangled her to save her life.
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To ensure that the other two men didn't actually kill her,
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Yevgeny Korasnochek stated that he purposely did not use harsh
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force on Oksana's neck while choking her so that she would
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just pass out, but that the other two guys would think she
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was already dead once she passed out, he said he told them that
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he had killed her, but then once again he changed his story and
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on the stand testified that it was another one of the offenders
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that strangled Aksana. Karaznochik claimed that he took
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the blame out of fear for himself and his family.
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When the judge inquired as to why he would now change his
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testimony, Karaznochik claimed that a man came to his cell in
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jail and offered him money in exchange if you would take full
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responsibility for the murder and not the others.
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He said it was then that he knew something was not right and that
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he must tell the truth. The other two suspects both
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denied their involvement in Iksana Makar's rape or murder.
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They strongly stood by their testimony that they were too
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frightened of Yevgeny Krasnochek to intervene.
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Yevgeny Krasnochek, 23, who was the only one of the three
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defendants to admit his participation in the rape, his
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confession to her murder and involvement in setting her on
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fire, faced the harshest punishment.
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He was given life imprisonment for his role in the crimes.
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The other two men, Maxim Pereznik, 24, Arnatom Pogracian,
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22, the sons of the former government officials, would
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receive 15 years and 14 years respectively.
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Although there was some semblance of justice, Michael
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Krtnich, A politician and leader of the European Party of
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Ukraine, was not satisfied. He declared to the press on
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behalf of Oxana Makar's mother that they would not rest until
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all three defendants were given the most severe penalty possible
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under the law. Oxana Makar's mother was
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initially received by the country and the media with
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endless compassion and support, both emotionally and
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financially. Millions of runya, which is the
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official currency of Ukraine, was given to the mother.
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However, once she filmed her suffering daughter dying and
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there was evidence that she had been pocketing the charity,
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their perceptions of Tatiana quickly changed.
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Then the dark truth, but Oxana Makar's life and her mother's
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began to surface. The following is based on the
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personal account of Oxana Makar's mentor at her boarding
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school. 2003. When Oksana Makar was only nine
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years old, she attended a boarding school in Shalrokula,
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Nifka, 50 kilometers away from Maka life.
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Her mother was released from prison in 2004 and that summer
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she picked up her daughter and took her on vacation with her.
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That autumn, a 50 year old man came to the boarding school
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wanting to take young Oksana away for the weekend.
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He claimed to be her mother's good friend and left a present
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for Oxana Makar. When he left, inside a box was
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sexy lingerie. The girl immediately got flush
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and said that's for my mom. But her mentor observed that the
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size was an extra small. He immediately went to the
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principal of the boarding school with his concerns and Oxana
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Makar ended up running away from the school at the start of 2005.
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A month passed until he received a call from the police in
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Hulukovo, about 600 kilometers away.
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When he went to the precinct to pick up Oxana, she cried,
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telling him she had ran away because of what her uncle Vulva
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was doing to her. That summer, while selling
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apples, the promenade and Michael Life, he had lured her
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inside his home, sexually abusing her.
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When Oxana's mother found out about what had happened, instead
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of punishing this man, she used the situation to her advantage.
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She blackmailed her brother and forced her 11 year old daughter
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Oksana to move into her uncle's house and in return she received
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regular payments. She was only 5 years old when
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her uncle began to rape her. The mentor informed the
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principal who contacted Oksana's mother and the police.
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Oksana's mother completely lost it, calling them whores and
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thieves, protesting that everything they said was lies.
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She would end up bringing in a medical certificate which swore
19:20
that Oksana was still a virgin. Not long after this incident,
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Oksana ran away again. Nothing was ever pursued against
19:28
the allegations made against her mother and uncle Vova.
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The country was divided on who was to blame for the death of
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Oksana Makar. Across the Internet and social
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media, the victim became the subject of passionate debate.
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Some blame the victim for the horrible circumstances that led
19:49
to her rape and death, and some were straight up on the side of
19:56
the rapist. Some people viewed Oksana Makar
20:00
as a whore, trash who had LED these young men on and who asked
20:07
for what she was given. Some angry, hateful bloggers.
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Even went so far to condemn Oxana Makar posting vulgar
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statements like and I quote I'm on their side.
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They are heroes 19 years old and trailing around bars.
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The slut fact serve the bitch right?
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Others actively rallied around the rapists and murderers, even
20:34
collecting money to help with their legal aid and raise funds
20:40
for their bail. This mission was led by a woman
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and national TV channel 24 TV polled their viewers asking was
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Makar herself in any way responsible for this tragic
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event, to which 77% polled answered yes.
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Others would claim that the two men, believed to be mussours,
21:05
were in fact regular citizens. But the concept of punishing
21:10
these kids of the most influential took over the truth
21:14
and they were unfairly persecuted.
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Alina Kabashna from the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, a
21:19
human rights organization, believed it was the lawlessness
21:24
of the culture, the darkness and the sickness of society that was
21:29
really to blame for the crime. It was noted how the primary
21:33
perpetrator, the defendant who had murdered Aksana Makar, had
21:37
suffered a horrible childhood of violent abuse.
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The passiveness of the other two defendants who did nothing to
21:44
stop this violence. Oxana O's own mother may have
21:49
been the most twisted of them all.
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She prostituted her child when she was alive and in her death,
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the political agendas and media hunger that exploited every
22:03
aspect of the case, but in particular Oxana Makar's death.
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To read that some residents not only blamed Oksana Makar for
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what happened to her, but that some even defended the rapists
22:17
and killers is shocking, disgusting and difficult to
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hear. Which it is, but the truth is
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that sexual violence committed against girls and women has
22:31
frequently brought up the concept of the whore versus
22:34
Madonna, which victims of rape and sexual assault still are
22:40
forced to cope with. Society, but in particular
22:44
patriarchal and misogynistic based societies still perceive
22:49
women in these unfair, archaic and unjustified divisions.
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It was not that long ago that criminal courts in the United
22:58
States were allowed to include testimony and evidence relating
23:02
to the sexual history and activity of a rape victim,
23:06
including cases of murder. What became known in the
23:12
criminal law as rape shield statutes, their first of its
23:15
kind, was established in 1979 in Michigan.
23:18
These statutes limit the admissibility of evidence about
23:22
past sexual behavior other than the ACT that is at issue in the
23:26
charge. Prior to these laws, any
23:29
evidence or general reputation around a lack of chastity could
23:33
be used in court to attack the credibility of the victim at
23:37
trial. Such testimony no doubtedly led
23:40
to many jurors questioning the legitimacy of the assault
23:44
charges and in general allowed defense attorneys to paint the
23:47
victim in the least sympathetic light.
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There are countless cases of rape, sexual assault,
23:54
trafficking, and even homicide where this once was allowed in
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Criminal Court. One particularly infamous case
24:00
comes to mind is the 1986 preppy killer murder where 18 year old
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woman Jennifer Levin was raped and brutally murdered by
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handsome media ready Robert Chambers.
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This young woman's name was dragged through the mud by the
24:16
defense counsel and the media. It wouldn't be until the mid
24:21
1990s when the majority of other states would enact legislation
24:26
based on Michigan's 1979 statute.
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When the federal government established the Violence Against
24:33
Women Act of 1994. This helped to solidify rape
24:37
shield statutes around the country.
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These statutes are relevant to Aksana Makar's story because not
24:45
only does Ukraine lack such protection for victims of sexual
24:48
violence, but shockingly, there are no official crime statistics
24:54
recorded for rape or domestic violence victims at all.
24:59
Any recorded data has been collected from the United
25:02
Nations and other countries that have researched the issue.
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A United Nations report in 2013 revealed that 45% of the
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45,000,000 Ukrainians experienced violence, their
25:15
sexual, physical and or mental abuse.
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The majority of it suffers being women.
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Again, there are no official records or statistics by the
25:25
Ukrainian government on sexual violence.
25:28
It was merely a well known but not discussed fact within their
25:32
culture. Studies conducted by the United
25:34
Nations and other Western countries indicate that violence
25:37
committed against women and girls is not restricted to a
25:41
certain area of the country and it occurs across all social
25:44
classes. Sexual exploitation of women and
25:48
girls is also rampant, with as high as 1/3 of young unemployed
25:52
Ukrainian women having been involved in some degree of
25:56
illegal sexual activity. It is believed that gender based
25:59
violence kills approximately 600 Ukrainian women a year, which
26:04
considering there are no official statistics on this
26:07
crime, the numbers are likely to be grossly underreported.
26:11
Violence against women has only escalated since Russia invaded
26:15
its country in 2014, with the office of the United Nations
26:19
High Commissioner for Human Rights reporting that women's
26:22
deaths caused by violence were three times higher than those
26:26
associated with the war. Ukraine, similar to much of
26:30
Eastern Europe, faces a crisis of sexual violence, including
26:34
rape, exploitation and trafficking of its girls and
26:38
young women. The charity Alliance for Public
26:42
Health reported there was an estimate of 86,000 sex workers
26:45
in 2019 and since Russia launched a full-fledged invasion
26:50
of their country, the issue has only escalated in Ukraine.
26:56
Many girls and women in Ukraine are expected to remain in
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traditional gender roles and there are very few legitimate
27:02
opportunities which empower them to financially support
27:05
themselves, much less feed and clothe their children.
27:09
Unless they are married. Most of them have menial jobs
27:12
that barely support basic living conditions.
27:16
The most common profile of a sex worker is a single young mother
27:20
who is uneducated and lacks any valuable skills in the
27:23
workforce. Left with few options, they have
27:26
to make money to be able to rent a house and support their
27:29
children. These young women are faced with
27:31
performing sex work. Law enforcement widely ignores
27:34
them and society views them as the fallen women.
27:38
They are not protected legally, nor are they provided with
27:42
social support or healthcare. During the same year of the
27:46
horrific rape and murder of Oksana Makar, the Council of
27:51
Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammerberg
27:55
published a report based upon his findings there during a
27:58
visit in late November 2011. He concluded that the severe
28:04
deficiencies within the functions of the justice system
28:07
led to a gross hindrance of the citizens human rights.
28:11
It was found that the judiciary was highly vulnerable to
28:14
corruption by outside influences.
28:17
There was also a great concern regarding the lack of rights for
28:20
the defense versus the prosecution, citing a large
28:23
imbalance of power. That commissioner also addressed
28:25
how there must be oversight of law enforcement's behavior
28:28
towards citizens and how they need to be held accountable for
28:32
their criminal actions, which have included rape, extortion
28:35
and severe beatings. Ukraine as a sovereign,
28:37
independent, democratic social legal state.
28:41
In 2012, the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine was established.
28:45
It closely mirrors international standards, but whether or not
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the conditions set forth by the code have been implemented is an
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entirely different matter. The criminal justice system of
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Ukraine is structured similarly to the US and many Western
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nations, with courts of general jurisdiction, which include
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local courts, appellate courts. There are specialized courts
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which are similar to the superior courts of the United
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States, and then at the top is their equivalent of SCOTUS.
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The Constitutional Court of Ukraine is the sole body of
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constitutional jurisdiction in Ukraine whose purpose is to
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guarantee the supremacy of the Constitution.
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This Court resolves issues of conformity of laws and other
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legal acts with the Constitution of Ukraine and provides the
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official interpretation of its constitution and the laws.
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In other words, their word is the law.
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The problem is that this body of justice is perhaps the most
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corrupt level of government. The trust towards the courts by
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the residence Ukraine is alarmingly low.
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By late 2014, only 10% believed in them and only 1% fully
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believed in the justice system defined by oligarchy.
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The system was operated, defined and controlled by a very small
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group of individuals in positions of power and
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influence. Ever since Ukraine gained its
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independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, it is continued
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to face new versions of the same type of government.
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They ignore the whole of society and work in the best interest of
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those in power. Oksana Mccarter's brutal death
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was a catalyst for change, or at least hopeful change, which has
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been actively sought since by the people of Ukraine, what was
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known as the Revolution of Dignity.
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In 2013 to 2014, there was a big demand for judicial reform, yet
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the changes have been minimal. The system remains undeveloped,
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doesn't focus on the rights of its citizens, and the judges
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continue to lack integrity, efficiency, transparency and
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balance. It was observed that their
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current system of legal counsel is terribly constructed.
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It doesn't function to provide any semblance of respect,
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professionalism, or power to their position.
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Lawyers are essentially looked down upon.
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The largest issue within the justice system is that very few
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judgments are actually carried through.
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According to the Ministry of Justice, roughly 80% of
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sentences given are never executed.
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Prosecutors also failed to align with European standards.
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Criminal investigators lack autonomy, and the system as a
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whole suffers from poor IT infrastructure.
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The justice system also suffers from not having an
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individualized approach based on evidence to prevent crime,
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rehabilitate or re socialize individuals who do violate the
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law, and very few offenders who are not incarcerated.
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The justice system also suffers from not having an
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individualized approach based on evidence to prevent crime,
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rehabilitate or socialize individuals who violate the law,
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and very few offenders are given penalties outside of
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incarceration. In these respects, Ukraine
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doesn't seem to differ much from the current crime control model
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implemented by the United States.
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Most likely likely spurred by the outreach expressed by the
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residents of Ukraine after Oksana Makar's murder, there
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were substantial steps made toward judicial reform between
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2012 and 2014. However, the powers given by
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these reforms exceeded the functions of the constitutional
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law. Due to this conflict, there have
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been major setbacks and obstacles to the Code of
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Criminal Procedure being successfully implemented.
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A strategy for reforming the justice system was established
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to update legislation which would help restore society's
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diminished confidence in the judiciary.
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In 2016, Parliament adopted several amendments regarding the
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criminal justice system, including the judiciary.
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One of the most significant amendments was to the
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Constitutional Court who now had the sole power to dismiss its
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judges. The other significant amendment
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was the establishment of anti corruption protections and how
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the prosecution no longer held oversight over law enforcement.
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The courts were also restructured under these
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amendments and the Supreme Anti Corruption Court and the High
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Court of Intellectual Property was established.
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Interestingly, the Supreme Anti Corruption Court is made-up not
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just of tenured members of the judiciary but also lawyers and
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legal academics who have 10 or more years of experience.
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Primary goal of these reforms, however, has yet to be reached,
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which is reflected in the terrible approval ratings by the
33:41
residents of Ukraine. They have yet to gain the rights
33:44
to a fair trial by an independent, professional and
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impartial court. On October 27th, 2020, the
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Constitutional Court ruled that the National Agency for
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Preventing Corruption, also known as NAPC, was in fact
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unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court
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effectively tore the agency apart, in particular dismantling
34:07
its asset declaration system and the subsequent penalties
34:12
associated with this violation. This system was critical to help
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minimize corruption amongst both appointed and elected government
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officials. The asset declaration system was
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one of the requirements set by the International Monetary Fund
34:27
in order to continue providing loans to Ukraine.
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As to why the Constitutional Court eliminated this pertinent
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system, it is believed that they are the most adversely impacted
34:40
by it. Members of the Constitutional
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Court are the highest power in government.
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Any decision they make cannot be reversed or appealed.
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There is no agency which overseas their decisions, much
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less enforces their impartiality.
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These judges are some of the wealthiest, most influential
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individuals in the country, making on average 20 times the
35:06
national average. But many past declarations have
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not been reflective of this salary and there is evidence of
35:16
their covering up their assets. President Zelensky drafted a law
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to get rid of the court's current judges and and all this
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ruling, but this law would violate the Constitution.
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Ever since Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine,
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Zelensky has made continued efforts at real judicial reform,
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but yet he in the Constitutional Court stand at a stalemate.
35:43
Women in Ukraine have equal constitutional rights as men,
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but they are not represented or treated equally to men in
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society, especially within the realm of politics.
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Positions of power and influence are highly restricted to women,
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with parliament currently comprised of 22%.
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Very few women are economically independent, much less own their
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own homes or businesses. I am sure, as in most countries,
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there are exceptions to the rule depending on the region and the
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personal circumstances of the woman's life.
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This is not a reflection of all males in Ukrainian society, but
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women must be represented in more political and legal affairs
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in order for their voices to be listened to and for their bodies
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and lives to be protected. On a personal note, I've had a
36:38
few interactions with residents of Ukraine and they have been
36:41
nothing but lovely. They are kind, respectful, warm
36:46
and hard working people. My original score for this
36:49
podcast was Co created by myself and a young Ukrainian male
36:53
artist and it was a wonderful, fulfilling experience.
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I wanted to share Oksana Makar's story because violence against
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girls and women is an International Crisis that only
37:07
seems to be escalating every year.
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It is not just one country's problem, nor is it only one
37:15
group's issue to solve. It affects every race,
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ethnicity, religion and social class.
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Only as a united global community can we ever hope to
37:30
eradicate this virus of violence that continues to invade the
37:35
lives of females around the world.
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Thank you so much for listening to the tragic story of Ukraine's
37:45
Oksana Makar. If you have any questions,
37:50
comments, or thoughts about this episode or ideas for future
37:54
ones, please reach out. I would love to hear from you.
37:58
You can find my contact information in the episode
38:01
description below. Until next time, stay safe and
38:08
watch out for she did murder happening in the streets next
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door, especially inside your own home.
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Shades of Murder is created, researched, written and edited
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by Alito Caldwell. Original music stranger composed
38:28
by Stereo Code.