A preparatory hearing commenced on April 1 at the Frankivsk District Court in Lviv regarding the murder of Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy. Family members, including his wife, daughter, and sister, attended the session, as reported by a correspondent from Radio Svoboda.
The accused, 53-year-old Mykhailo Stselnikov from Lviv, confessed to the crime following his arrest. In March, the Security Service of Ukraine announced the completion of the pre-trial investigation, with the indictment subsequently submitted to the court.
Andriy Parubiy, a prominent figure in the Revolution of Dignity and former Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada from 2016 to 2019, was shot dead in Lviv on August 30, 2025. He was detained the following day in Khmelnytskyi, where Stselnikov was apprehended. On September 2, he was placed in custody for 60 days without the option for bail. Prior to the hearing, he spoke with journalists and admitted to the murder, citing “personal revenge against the Ukrainian government” as his motive.
Stselnikov also refuted claims in the media suggesting that he had been blackmailed by Russian intelligence services, asserting that he had not collaborated with them. On October 3, the Security Service of Ukraine stated that they had gathered “irrefutable evidence” indicating that Stselnikov acted on behalf of Russian intelligence, leading to an additional charge of treason.
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the murder investigation was initially conducted under charges related to illegal handling of weapons and attempted murder of a member of parliament in connection with his public service. The Security Service noted that Stselnikov could face life imprisonment.
The preliminary hearing for the murder of Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy began in Lviv, with the accused admitting guilt and claiming personal motives. The case has drawn attention due to allegations of foreign involvement.