On the night of December 7, in the city of Sheptytsky, near Lviv, a group of young people attacked the participants of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Ensemble of Song and Dance "Hutsuliya." The artists were returning home after tours in Poland and Finland when aggressive boys and girls broke into their bus, provoking a fight.
According to information provided by the general director of the ensemble, Vasyl Sheremeta, the attack took place at the "OKKO" gas station around three in the morning. "This was not a fight; it was a one-sided attack. The attackers first scattered the artists' belongings and then began to physically assault them," emphasized Sheremeta.
As a result of the incident, four artists sustained injuries: one was diagnosed with a fracture, while others had numerous bruises and injuries.
Outrage at police actions
Another source of outrage for the artists was the actions of the police who arrived at the scene. According to the victims, the law enforcement officers initially did not respond to the aggressors' behavior, and even the police themselves became targets of insults. "We cannot understand why society does not react to obvious violations of the law," noted Sheremeta.
The Lviv region police have already opened a criminal investigation under the article on hooliganism, and two of the attackers have already been charged.
Appeal to society
The "Hutsuliya" ensemble has called for a societal response to this incident, as it is not only a matter of the safety of cultural workers but also trust in law enforcement agencies. "We are seeking justice, because silence is consent to repeat," stressed Sheremeta.
Currently, the "Hutsuliya" ensemble is preparing for new tours, but the situation with the attack has significantly affected the psychological state of the artists.
