The State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine has opened criminal proceedings against officials of one of the units of the Poltava District Territorial Recruitment Center (TCC). The reason was the mobilization of a man who, according to his mother, had suffered a stroke, had serious chronic illnesses, and had been removed from the military register.
On November 11, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported this. The information was also published by the human rights publication ZMINA.
The story became public during an offsite meeting of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada dedicated to the observance of citizens' rights during mobilization in the Poltava region.
A woman attended the meeting and spoke about the alleged illegal mobilization of her son. According to her, the man was mowing grass near his own house when representatives of the territorial recruitment center approached him.
The woman claims that TCC officers used physical force against her son and then took him to undergo mobilization procedures.
According to the mother, at that time the man had already been removed from the military register, which was confirmed by documents and the relevant status in the "Reserve+" application.
In addition, the woman said that her son had suffered a stroke, had heart problems and a number of other chronic diseases. Despite this, the military medical commission declared him fit for military service.
The mother of the mobilized man provided the ombudsman's representatives with copies of documents that, according to her, confirmed the removal of her son from the military register.
After receiving the complaint, the representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Poltava region, Vladyslav Nosenko, took control of the situation.
The ombudsman's representative in the security and defense sector bodies, Yuriy Kovbasa, sent an official request to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The ministry was asked to provide documents explaining the grounds for the man's passing the military medical commission, the change of his registration status, and the legality of the decision to conscript him. They also demanded confirmation of his actual passing of military service.
Based on the results of the inspection, the Military Law Enforcement Service confirmed the circumstances reported by the mother of the mobilized man. Signs of a criminal offense were found in the actions of certain officials of the Poltava District TCC.
The inspection materials were transferred to the territorial department of the State Bureau of Investigation in Poltava.
Investigators launched a pre-trial investigation under Part 5 of Article 426-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — abuse of authority or official powers by a military official.
As "Kremenchuk Telegraph" reports, earlier, based on the results of an internal investigation, violations were found in the actions of two TCC servicemen. One was charged with failure to comply with the procedure for delivering a citizen, and the other with inadequate control over subordinates. Both received reprimands.
However, the internal investigation was not the final stage of the proceedings. Now the circumstances of the mobilization must receive a criminal law assessment.
Lubinets emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and investigators must establish all the circumstances of the incident and determine the responsibility of the officials involved.
The ombudsman also stated that mobilization must be carried out exclusively within the framework of the law and with respect for human dignity. According to him, the fulfillment of mobilization tasks cannot serve as an excuse for violating citizens' rights.
At the same time, the opening of criminal proceedings does not mean that TCC employees are recognized as guilty. The final legal assessment of their actions must be given by the investigation and the court.
