Rada deputy suspected of organizing the departure of 23 evaders abroad
An MP of the Verkhovna Rada is suspected of illegally transporting 23 people abroad under the pretext of accompanying the MP as drivers. This was reported by the press service of the Prosecutor-General's Office of Ukraine on January 18.
According to the investigation, in 2022-2023, the people's Deputy, as well as a member of the Committee on transport and infrastructure, sent letters to the state Border service with a request for permission to travel outside the country to 23 citizens to accompany the Deputy as drivers.
However, it later turned out that some returned independently, and three people finally left Ukraine.
Now searches are being conducted at the place of residence of the suspect.
Also, the MP was handed a petition for a measure of restraint in the form of remand in custody, which will be submitted to the court.
Before that, on 13 January, Ukraine detained an employee of the Mykolaiv regional military enlistment office, who for money helped citizens liable for military service to avoid mobilization. It is reported that the employee of the military enlistment office together with a colleague offered to help the persons liable for military service to avoid mobilization. For a payment of $4-5,000, they promised to influence doctors to forge medical documents with false diagnoses when passing the military medical commission.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (term expired May 20, 2024) signed the law on tightening mobilization on April 16, 2024. The document lists the categories of citizens who are subject to conscription. In addition, it toughens the punishment for evasion of service in the AFU, but there are no provisions on demobilization.
Martial law in Ukraine has been in effect since February 2022. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly extended it. Most men aged between 18 and 60 are banned from leaving the country.
