“In January 2025, in the city of Bila Tserkva, the Kyiv region, there was a resonant case of a cruel beating of a minor girl by a group of teenagers. The incident has become widely publicized after the video beating was released on social networks.”, – WRITE: www.pravda.com.ua
The incident has become widely publicized after the video beating was released on social networks. The record shows how several teenagers among them are both girls and boys, beating the victim with their feet and hands, while accompanying the actions of obscene swearing and humiliation.
A girl whose guilt in the eyes of peers was to a children’s joke with a door and a fictional “explosive”, was a victim of torture. We all saw this horrible video on social networks.
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It was not a “quarrel between teenagers.”
It was a planned massacre – cruel, demonstrative, video, video, mockery, pleasure from abuse, which is visible in the eyes of the abusers.
Initially, the case was opened as … Easy bodily harm. Yes, inquiry under Part 1 of Art. 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It was as if it were a random push for a break. And only when law enforcement officers had a video from the event where the torture took place – then the case changed the qualification. Only then did someone finally recognize that it was not a children’s quarrel, but a crime under Art. 127 of the Criminal Code – torture.
Motive? Teens decided to “punish” their girlfriend
Police have installed 12 participants from 12 to 16 years.
Some of these teenagers were called the victim. They decided to punish her for fictional gossip. And yet – for the fear that she can “hand over” some of them who already use drugs at that age. And as “punishment” – they gathered in a group, made videos, laughed, humiliated, beat, and demanded money from the victim.
No one stopped. No one closed the camera. No one ran for help. Because it seemed to everyone that to beat their hair, to pull for hair, to spray the pepper cans in the face – it was OK. Maybe they were taught at home?
Parents: a warning, a few penalties… and no shame
Now let’s talk about Adult responsibility.
I will remind that most participants of the event have not reached the age of criminal responsibility and they will “go away from their hands.”
As for parents, their area of responsibility is improper education of children. And here the parade of the absurd begins.
Some of the parents got warning (yes, just verbal remarks from the court), others – Penalty 850 UAH or 1 700 UAH. This is at a time when their children were mocking another child.
Examples:
- To have a chief suspect – Warning. Judge: Ozadovsky R. (Case No. 357/2242/25 dated 11.03.20)
- Another suspect – fine 1 700 UAH. Judge: Primachenko V. (№357/1924/25 dated 12.02.2025)
- Children who were only “witnesses”, that is, silently stood side by side, and sometimes removed everything that was happening – their parents received … Higher fines than some of the parents of those who beat.
It is – Losing logic, Lack of principle of justice, neglect to an individual approach.
Thus, the parents of the suspects and the persons who are envisaged by the use of compulsory measures of educational nature, the judges applied the most penalties, which are provided by the relevant part of Art. 184 KUPAP. The mother of the main suspect is used in general the warning. At the same time, the parents of the children who were simply present, the judges have never applied warnings. One mother who was genuinely repeated was the most severe of possible penalties.
This indicates the complete lack of unity of jurisprudence, judges do not provide reasonable motivation for differentiation of parents’ responsibility. Thus, the parents of children who were only present at the event have applied more severe sanctions than parents of direct participants in the event.
“They are children.” And she is no longer a child?
We will hear repeatedly: “And what do you want? They are children.”
And the victim, by the way, – Also a child. Where is the balance of sympathy?
The status of “child” does not mean the lack of consciousness, and even more so. Children are not born with the idea that to beat their feet is normal. They are taught so. Or do not teach the opposite.
None of us deny: yes, they are 13, 14, 15 years old. And no – they will not sit for 12 years in prison. The law really stipulates that the court must mitigate the punishment of a minor. And that’s normal.
So what threatens the abusers in reality?
Two major persons involved in the case are charged with:
- torture (Article 127 of the Criminal Code) – up to 10 years old,
- extorting money during martial law (Article 189 of the Criminal Code) – up to 12 years old.
It is important to understand that the Criminal Code of Ukraine obliges soften the punishment of a minor. It is impossible to apply punishment for those who have not reached criminal liability.
We are still awaiting a full trial in the Belotserkovsky City Court of Kyiv region, as the case was just sent to court. And here the victim will already have the opportunity to participate in court sessions, to declare a claim for non -pecuniary damage, etc.
For children under the age of criminal liability, measures of a compulsory educational nature can be applied, such as:
- warning,
- Leisure restriction,
- Transfer to the supervision of parents or educators,
- Direction to special institutions for minors.
That is, a real, tangible mechanism of influence – No.
But these measures do not imply real restraint of liberty, they have a more formal rather than a punitive character, which in the context of moral and physical injury of the victim looks, to say the least, mocking.
Important: In cases where a minor has not yet reached criminal liability, the court is limited in its decisions – it cannot impose a real imprisonment or serious restriction, even if the fact of cruelty is obvious.
And if tomorrow – again?
Unfortunately, this case has become a signal that it is not just a case of cruelty among teenagers.
And probably, it is time to stop the systematic refusal of the state to recognize such events as serious crimes.
Want to raise good children? Start by leaving evil with impunity, but calling things with their names. The law should be fair, but also effective.
While evil is called a “baby joke” and its consequences are “light bodily”, we grow a generation that is not afraid to beat their feet in the face.
Don’t justify it.
Anna Kalinchuklawyer by Miller Law Firm lawyer
Miller Law Firm provides legal assistance to the injured girl under Pro Bono.
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