MOSCOW, September 18 (RAPSI) – A court in Ukraine on Monday acquitted defendants in the criminal case over riots in the city of Odessa resulted in deaths of dozens of people in May 2014, the local media reported.

According to the court, prosecutors had provided no evidence confirming their position.

The court ordered the release of the defendants. However, some of them were detained immediately after release on suspicion of separatism.

During the clashes between Ukraine federalization supporters and participants in support of the country’s unity in Odessa on May 2, 2014, about 50 people were killed and over 250 injured. Most of the Antimaidan supporters died in the fire at the Trade Union House.

Investigation found that the mass riots in Odessa were planned in advance.

Several days later, police arrested main defendants in the case as well as some police officers.

Soon after the incident, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry admitted that 32 people at the Trade Union House died not because of high temperatures but because of “an unknown substance.” The investigation, however, did not confirm that any toxic substances were used, including chloroform.