In Zaporizhzhia, a private care facility was discovered where eight people, most of whom were with limited mobility, lived in a cramped apartment under unsanitary conditions. This was reported by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, as conveyed by UNN.
After the intervention of the Ombudsman's Office, they were evacuated, and law enforcement opened criminal proceedings.
Details
A woman trying to find her aunt contacted the Ombudsman's representative in the Zaporizhzhia region, Mykhailo Volkov. According to her, representatives of a private organization took her relative from a medical facility and placed her in an apartment where they allegedly provided care services with accommodation.
When relatives came to pick up the woman, they were not allowed to meet with her. During an inspection, representatives of the Ombudsman's Office found gross violations of the rights of its residents in the apartment.
Eight people lived in the dwelling, which had an area of about 40 square meters, most of whom had limited mobility. The apartment was dirty, unsanitary, had a faulty toilet, and soiled mattresses. The residents also did not receive adequate nutrition.
A person with amputated lower limbs was forced to lie on a mattress placed directly on the floor.
According to the Ombudsman, the residents' personal documents and bank cards were taken away. One of the men stated that he was being held in the apartment without his consent.
"This looks not like care, but like humiliation of human dignity," Lubinets emphasized.
After the intervention of the Ombudsman's Office, all residents were evacuated. One person was hospitalized, and the rest were placed in safe locations where they were provided with proper care.
Law enforcement has already opened criminal proceedings. The Ombudsman stated that he will seek to bring those responsible to justice.
Context
Lubinets called this case evidence of a systemic problem, as private nursing homes continue to operate in Ukraine whose activities are not properly regulated and effectively remain outside effective state control.
Since 2023, monitoring groups of the National Preventive Mechanism have visited 152 private geriatric facilities.
The Ombudsman called for a legislative requirement for private social service providers to submit information about their activities for inclusion in a relevant register. He also emphasized the need to introduce effective control over the observance of the rights of people living in such facilities.
"Elderly people and persons with disabilities have the right not to survive, but to live in safety and care. No charitable or religious organization can be a cover for cruel treatment or illegal deprivation of liberty," Lubinets wrote.
Recall
Last month in Kyiv, a group was exposed that held 11 people in labor slavery in a workshop. The victims were beaten, had their documents taken away, and were forced to work without pay.