The chief of the Berkut riot police in Volyn Oblast has revealed that all Volyn members of the Berkut who were transferred to Kyiv during the protests received a bonus of 5,000 to 15,000 UAH. They had also been promised apartments in Lutsk.

Dmytro Beliayev, chief of the Volyn Berkut, provided the information during questioning by Lutsk activists on the local Euromaidan. The commander of the special forces spoke last, after each of the 30 or so members of his unit had been questioned by the activists.

Beliayev said he lives in the village of Prylutske in Kivertsi District of Volyn, but he warned from the outset that he lives with family, including his aunt, who, he says, is not to blame.

“When you burn my house down, keep in mind that my aunt lives there too. She’s not to blame for anything,” Beliayev said.