The hearing in the Zinchenko case was postponed due to the defense attorney's sick leave
On September 14, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Lviv postponed for the second time the hearing in the case of Vyacheslav Zinchenko, who is accused of murdering Iryna Farion. The reason was the absence of his attorney, Diana Kary—she informed the court that she was on sick leave.
Once again, a hearing in the case of Vyacheslav Zinchenko, who is accused of murdering linguist and civil society activist Iryna Farion, did not take place in Lviv. The hearing was scheduled for September 14 at the Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Lviv. However, the court was forced to postpone the proceedings for the second time due to the absence of the defendant’s defense attorney, Diana Kara.
Zinchenko was brought to court under escort by the National Guard. Prosecutor Dmytro Petlovany was also present at the hearing. Judge Petro Nevoyt announced that the court had received a motion via email from defense attorney Diana Kara. She requested that the hearing be postponed. According to the defense attorney, she had received the summons but is currently on sick leave.
Prosecutor Dmytro Petlovany emphasized that the hearing could not proceed without a defense attorney in this case. Zinchenko is charged with an especially serious crime, so the presence of a defense attorney is mandatory. “Because Zinchenko is accused of committing an especially serious crime, the presence of a defense attorney is mandatory,” the prosecutor noted. Following this, the panel of judges decided to extend the recess in the hearing.
A new hearing date was set for the very next day—September 15. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. This is the second time the case has been postponed due to the absence of defense attorney Diana Kari.
What Is Known About the Zinchenko Case
Vyacheslav Zinchenko is accused of murdering Iryna Farion. The linguist and civil society activist was fatally wounded in Lviv on July 19, 2024. Farion sustained a gunshot wound near her home. She died in the hospital a few hours later. Zinchenko was arrested following an investigation. He was charged with the murder of Farion.
The trial is ongoing. At this stage, the charges do not imply proven guilt—the final decision must be made by the court. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 15 at 11:30 a.m., according to Suspilne.
The Uzhhorod City and District Court ruled that statements made by Oleksiy Fazekosh, chairman of the Transcarpathian Regional Bar Association, regarding attorney Larisa Kryvoruchko—who previously defended the man accused of murdering Iryna Farion—were unfounded.
On the second anniversary of the death of linguist and People’s Deputy of the 7th convocation Iryna Farion, her daughter Sofia Osoba published a poignant video message. She shared family memories, spoke about a family tradition, and expressed words of love and gratitude to her mother.
As a reminder, the defendant accused of Faryon’s murder will be assigned a public defender.
The defendant in the Faryon murder case refused to testify in court.
