Former head of the Ministry of Culture has been charged in connection with ‘music tours’
This was announced by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko.
How the ‘music tour’ scheme worked
According to the investigation, lists of people presented as members of music groups were submitted to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications (formerly the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy). The documents stated that the bands were planning to travel abroad to give charity performances in support of Ukraine. However, law enforcement officers established that some of the men included on these lists had, in fact, no connection to music. Initially, border guards refused to allow them to cross the state border. Following this, according to the investigation, the head of the ministry sent a further letter to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine requesting that they facilitate the departure of these same individuals, this time as representatives of a music group. It was this document that served as the basis for them to cross the border. As a result, eight men of conscription age left Ukraine and have not yet returned.
Who else is involved in the case
The National Police stated that the scheme was uncovered in April this year by operatives from the Strategic Investigations Department in Kyiv, in collaboration with investigators from the National Police’s Main Investigative Directorate, under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General. At that time, a businesswoman was placed under suspicion. During subsequent investigative actions, law enforcement officers identified other possible participants in the scheme. According to the investigation, four individuals were responsible for finding people willing to travel abroad, negotiating the terms of such ‘trips’, whilst a former official signed letters of support from the ministry.
What penalties do the suspects face?
On 19 June, investigators notified five individuals involved in the case of the charges against them, including a former senior official. Their actions have been classified under Part 3 of Article 28 and Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — the illegal smuggling of persons across the state border, committed by an organised group. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement agencies are examining further incidents and identifying other possible suspects.
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