Ukraine's security services 'tortured MP accused of assaulting officer' and country remains corrupt Artem DmyTruk extradition case told

A UKRAINIAN MP said to have been "branded a traitor by President Volodymyr Zelensky" for alleged "pro Russian views" was tortured by the country's security services, a British court has been told.

Powerlifter Artem Dmytruk, 32, (above and below) is fighting extradition to Ukraine amid allegations he was involved in separate attacks on an officer of Ukraine's SBU in 2022 and another man in 2023.

But, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard claims yesterday the request is "politically and religiously motivated" after Dmytruk went head to head with Ukraine's President Zelensky over the latter's treatment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which is seen as sympathising with Russia, following its February 2022 invasion.

The court was told that torture still happens in Ukraine and there is corruption among its judiciarty, meaning that Dmytruk would have no chance of a fair trial were he to be extradited.

Dmytruk claims his arms were restrained with cable ties while he was beaten and had his eyes gouged by SBU officers in order to get him to confess to the 2022 crime.

Edward Fitzgerald KC, representing Dmytruk, also said there is a real risk that he would be tortured again if he was forced to return to Ukraine.

The muscle-bound politician is fighting extradition from a £2 million apartment owned by the son of a Conservative Peer, which cannot be identified for legal reasons, due to concerns over his safety.

He was released on conditional bail after paying a £30,000 security to the court.

In 2019 Dmytruk was elected as Ukrainian Member of Parliament of the IX convocation in the Odesa region as an independent candidate endorsed by President Zelensky's Servant of the People faction, which he later joined.

According to Ukrainian reports he was subsequently expelled in November 2021, for taking a "number of pro-Russian" stances.

While fighting extradition, he has remained critical of President Zelensky on a Telegram account which has more than 102,000 subscribers.

In June this year President Zelenskyy included Dmytruk on a sanctions list against 13 individuals and eight legal entities accused of conducting business in the Russian occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea.

He left Ukraine on August 24 2024 allegedly by trekking through forests in Moldova before flying to Rome after his life was allegedly threatened by organised crime gangs in what he claims was a "state sponsored assassination bid."

The following day President Zelensky took steps for him to be brought back, it was alleged at the court on Tuesday, October 21 2025.

Dmytruk is accused of a vicious attack on a member of Ukraine's security service known as the SBU.

While he was monitoring a night time curfew on March 3 2022 in the Odesa region, imposed after the Russian invasion, it is alleged that he badly beat one of two SBU officers, after questioning them about their movements.

He is also accused of beating then strangling another man to the point that he lost consciousness in Kiev on October 5 2023. He was allegedly left with a fractured nose and skull.

The court heard that Dmytruk was detained by SBU officers overnight on March 4/5 2022 to be questioned about the alleged earlier attack, but that he was tortured into making a confession.

Dr Julia Cohen, a forensic physician specialising in examination of victims of torture, said pictures of his injuries were consistengt with his account of being tortured, the court heard.

Mr Fitzgerald said that despite the alleged confession made under duress, nothing further happened in respect of investigations into the two alleged attacks, until Dmytruk began criticizing President Zelensky's treatment of the UOC and the introduction of a law outlawing it.

Law 3894, which prohibits the activities of religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, such as the UOC, was passed in August 2024.

Dmytruk, who was ordained as a UOC deacon in July 2024, was vocal in his opposition to Law 3894 from then onwards and voted against it.

He made a series of high-profile posts on Telegram, calling on people to be against the ban throughout August 2024.

On August 20 he made an “an impassioned speech against the law in the Ukrainian Parliament and three days later posted on Telegram that the authorities had instructed organised crime groups to murder him.

He left the country on August 24.

The court heard that the next day President Zelensky addressed the nation, saying that “traitors of Ukraine who assisted Russian aggression or justified it, who fled from Ukraine to evade responsibility… must get what they deserve, no matter where they hide or where they flee”.

He confirmed that he had “scheduled a meeting for tomorrow with the heads of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies”.

August 25 was also the first day Ukraine took action to put Dmytruk under suspicion for the two attacks and on August 29 the Prosecutor General issued a warrant for his arrest.

Mr Fitzgerald said: "The first alleged offence in Odessa took place in March 2022. But it was not until 2 and a half years later that the Notice of Suspicion was issued on 25 August 2024. Why did it take so long? And why was the prosecution initiated at that particular moment? The answer is clear. It is because throughout July and August 2024, Mr Dmytruk made outspoken posts against the persecution of the UOC and the introduction of Law 3894.

"(Dmytruk) has been labelled, both explicitly and implicitly, by those in high office, including President Zelensky and Andriy Yermak, as a “traitor” to Ukraine due to his allegiance to the UOC and his public opposition to President Zelensky’s policies. As such, the RP will experience prejudice at trial due to societal attitudes against perceived Russian sympathisers that will undermine his ability to mount an effective defence and receive a fair trial.

"There is clear evidence of political motivation for this prosecution, and overwhelming evidence that Mr Dmytruk will be prejudiced at trial on the grounds of his political position, his outspoken defence of the UOC and the imputation that he is pro-Russian.

"Secondly, there is a real risk of inhuman treatment or torture if Mr Dmytruk is extradited. That risk is borne out by the actual torture he suffered at the hands of the SBU on the night of the 4 to 5 March 2022; and by general and expert evidence of the readiness to resort to torture in Ukraine; and the inevitable consequences of Mr Dmytruk being characterised as a traitor and a Russian

sympathiser."

Joel Smith KC, representing Ukraine, denied there was any political or religious motivation and insisted the request was purely to see him face justice over the alleged assaults.

He said there was no record of Dmytruk being held in detention by the SBU and he had made no complaints about being tortured at the time in Ukraine, records showed he was physically well and he had made no confession as his testimony claimed he had acted in self defence.

He said several other MPs had been against the ban but had faced no hostilities.

He said: "(Artem's) allegation of being assaulted is undermined by an examination report dated 9/3/22 from Ukrainian investigators who conducted an internet search on that date. A telegram post dated 7th March 2022 was found and retained which included a screenshot of a post by (Artem) discussing the offence incident. The post contained a video which shows (him) speaking about the incident without any bodily injuries visible.

"There is no evidence of persecution. There is ample evidence of an ordinary criminal prosecution. The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly confirmed that he will be given a fair trial and that UK and international observers are welcome to attend the public and open hearing."

The hearing continues.