A scheme involving the sale of civil service summonses to avoid conscription has been uncovered in Zakarpattia
The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have reported the exposure of a scheme to evade conscription in Zakarpattia.
According to law enforcement officials, the head of a local public association in Uzhhorod was exposed; together with a former official from the district military registration and enlistment office, he had been issuing documents to conscripts for a fee to help them evade mobilisation.
The investigation established that the suspects were selling clients summonses to appear at the Military Registration and Enlistment Office dated one month after the document was issued.
According to law enforcement, the possession of such a summons effectively allowed those liable for military service to avoid problems during checks of their military registration documents.
If necessary, the organisers of the scheme would issue new documents for an additional fee.
The cost of such a ‘service’, according to the investigation, ranged from 800 to 2,000 US dollars per summons.
The SBU reported that the organisers of the scheme are the head of a local public organisation and a former military officer.
Law enforcement officers are also verifying information regarding the possible involvement in the scheme of the acting head of the district military registration and enlistment office and his subordinate, who worked in one of the departments of a high-security facility.
SBU officers documented the handover of one of the cash instalments to the scheme’s organisers.
During searches of the suspects’ homes and workplaces, law enforcement officers seized documents and mobile phones which, according to the investigation, contain evidence of unlawful activity.
The detainees have now been notified of their status as suspects under Part 5 of Article 27 and Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This relates to aiding and abetting the acceptance of a proposal, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public official.
The SBU stated that it plans to notify all participants in the scheme of the charges against them.
The penalty under this article provides for up to 10 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Comprehensive measures were carried out under the procedural guidance of the Transcarpathian Specialised Prosecutor’s Office for the Western Region.
