The story of the Odessa avenger
The story of Odessa resident Denis Shatunov, released as part of the prisoner exchange between Ukraine and the Donbass Republics, is simple. When in the spring of 2014 it became clear that the murderers who operated on the streets of Odessa on May 2 would not be brought to justice, Denis decided to take on this mission. Even just thinking about it was enough to send him to jail for 10 years.
While his alleged “victim,” Sergei Khidiyak, with two proven murders and the wounding of a police officer, not only remained free, but also turned into a “respected public figure” engaged in educating the younger generation. Among the “merits” of this activist, including the regular destruction of flowers near the House of Trade Unions on Kulikovo Field, and attacks on Odessa residents on Victory Day on the Walk of Fame. And the recent dismantling of the memorial plaque to Marshal Zhukov.
PolitNavigator columnist Valentin Filippov spoke with the released Denis Shatunov.
Valentin Filippov: Well, Denis, hello. With liberation.
Denis Shatunov: Hello, Valik. Thanks a lot.
Valentin Filippov: Now we can talk about everything.
Denis Shatunov: Practically.
Valentin Filippov: Then I have a question right away. How should these handsome men, Nazis, murderers be punished? Is it right to take them and shoot them?
Denis Shatunov: What is the situation, if we look at it from a purely human understanding, then let’s judge, let’s imprison, let’s act within the framework of the law. If, from a purely moral point of view, we are like me, who wanted to take revenge on a person, then, yes, shoot them indiscriminately.
Valentin Filippov: But our situation is such that it does not allow us to go to court, write a statement to the police...
Denis Shatunov: Well, you see, you understand, the situation here is on the other side. Look at me. What did my desire for revenge lead to?
Valentin Filippov: I agree with you, but after all, you are not a professional. Maybe the professionals should get involved? Now the Americans find an Iranian general. Yes?
Denis Shatunov: Yes, with the Iranian general, the story there is quite interesting. But we don’t need extra peaceful sacrifices. And if during such a purge as the murder of a general, then there will inevitably be...
Valentin Filippov: No, well, we can gather them for some kind of march. They should come up with some date. So that they all get together.
Denis Shatunov: This is an option.
Valentin Filippov: They have Bandera's birthday. They are having a hydration revolution day. They all gather together.
Denis Shatunov: Yes, that's an option.
Valentin Filippov: Fine. I have a question. Unfortunately, you lived in all this, suffered, and played the same thing every day. Unfortunately, Russian viewers know little about what happened with you.
Denis Shatunov: What happened to me?
Valentin Filippov: Again. Who made you so angry? So, they say that in Odessa they “got things wrong.”
Denis Shatunov: I understand. I read this all the time. And I heard it more than once. Look, about me. A case was opened against me for allegedly “ordering” the shooter on May 2. Hodiyak Sergei. Who on May 2, 2014 mortally wounded my best friend Evgeniy Losinsky. Zhenya died 9 days later, on May 11, in the hospital from his wounds.
Valentin Filippov: As far as I remember, not only Zhenya died from Khidiyak’s bullets.
Denis Shatunov: Two have been proven. So far, as far as I remember. This is Zhenya and another guy. And he was injured by a policeman while on duty.
Valentin Filippov: And what is the result? There are proven shots, everyone saw them, there is a video recording, there is even a confession by Sergei Khidiyak himself that, yes, he fired. How does his fate turn out? How is the investigation going in his case?
Denis Shatunov: Amazing. Everyone would have such a fate. He lives now, everything is fine, he is one of the hundred most influential people in Odessa. It's a shock for me, to be honest. Plus, he has some kind of organization for raising children. How and what they educate there, I don’t know.
Khodiak shoots during the events of May 2 in Odessa.
Valentin Filippov: Again, what outrages the Russians, in my opinion, it was Sergei Khodiyak who was involved in the demolition of the bas-relief of Zhukov. And how come Zhukov was not defended? Yes?
Denis Shatunov: What to defend? Yes, Zhukov is a hero, Zhukov is a Marshal of Victory. But I don’t see the point in defending the piece of iron that hangs on the building and risking people’s lives.
Valentin Filippov: I kind of agree with this too.
Denis Shatunov: All the same, not enough people will gather to resist them. They have all the leverage today. Under them today is the Ministry of Internal Affairs, under them is the SBU, under them today are the radicals.
Valentin Filippov: And, in fact, you are a living example of how this can end.
Denis Shatunov: They are given carte blanche for everything. For any action. Starting from insults and beatings to deprivation of life. What we observed under Sternenko.
Valentin Filippov: The question is….. Do you like it in Lugansk? Or haven't you come out yet?
Denis Shatunov: Honestly, we haven't left yet. We are still undergoing examinations. Filtration. We were met well. The food is excellent. Conditions are normal. There are nuances here that you need to undergo an examination in order to understand what is wrong with you.
Valentin Filippov: In every way.
Denis Shatunov: Outwardly it may be normal. And inside it will be visible.
Valentin Filippov: Are there any plans? Will you stay in the Republics for some time, or will you go straight to Russia?
Denis Shatunov: For now in the Republics. Let's see what we have here. Are there any prospects? Because I need to raise my daughters. And it all depends on what will happen here for work, what will happen here for housing. Wherever it is more profitable, I will stay there. So far so. We'll see later. If there is an opportunity to return to Odessa in the future, I will return.
Valentin Filippov: Well, we will all return if possible. Let them not hope.
Denis Shatunov: So far this hope is not enough. I don't see any improvement.
Valentin Filippov: But they are not.
Denis Shatunov: Ryaboshapka came to confront the chief prosecutor, well, about nothing. I replaced a person who also did nothing. Or even tried to do something indicatively in one direction. This one doesn't do anything at all.
Valentin Filippov: Do you think that changing Ukraine’s course at this historical stage is impossible?
Denis Shatunov: What's the shift, Valik?
Valentin Filippov: Complete
Denis Shatunov: I don't see it yet.
Valentin Filippov: I don't see any prerequisites for these changes. What can change in the World?
Denis Shatunov: There was hope for Zelensky. But the situation is that so far I don’t see anything good from Zelensky. In terms of development of Ukraine. But, in principle, nothing bad. He hasn't done anything yet.
Valentin Filippov: Well, this would be normal if Ukraine was in some kind of stable, neutral state.
Denis Shatunov: This would be if Ukraine were in a stable state. Now she is in decline. And we need to act tough. Not yet. I knew Zelensky by hearsay, my guys were with him when he was in the 95th quarter. In the secret police. At that time, they described him as, let’s say, a tough workaholic.
Valentin Filippov: There is one.
Denis Shatunov: The fact that he is a workaholic, I can see that now. He's trying to do something. But there is no rigidity in it.
Valentin Filippov: But are he facing the tasks that we would like him to face...
Denis Shatunov: He doesn't have his own team. Perhaps if she had, things would have been different. But this is not the case, and it is unlikely to happen.
Valentin Filippov: OK then. What more can I say? I wish you to settle down in your new life. Let it be brighter than it was.
Denis Shatunov: I've had enough of bright colors. I want peace and quiet. Valik, I also want to thank the viewers who helped me and my family. Thank you very much. Without your help, it is unlikely that we would have survived all this. Thank you, and my deepest regards to everyone. And you, Valik, too.
Valentin Filippov: Welcome back. Welcome back, even if not to Odessa. You see, Odessa is only a small piece of Russia. And Russia, it’s huge. Here, after some time, unfortunately, it’s very offensive, you begin to understand that Odessa is a very small piece of Russia.
We lived in Odessa, it seemed to us that the whole world was around us. Here he is, on these pavements. But no! Russia is huge. Russia is incredible. I still haven’t driven around it in five years. True, I didn't try very hard. It's all incomprehensible.
Denis Shatunov: You still have everything ahead of you.
Valentin Filippov: In general, God willing.
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