Fake "missing wives" and deferrals - draft evasion scheme through court exposed
Kyiv • UNN
A scheme of evading military service through fictitious court decisions about missing wives was exposed in Konotop. A judge, a lawyer, and an evader were served with suspicion notices.
In the Sumy region, law enforcement officers uncovered a scheme for illegally obtaining deferrals from mobilization through court decisions. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General, according to UNN.
Details
According to the investigation, a mechanism was organized in the Konotop City and District Court that allowed conscripted men to avoid service, obtain deferrals, and travel abroad.
The essence of the scheme was to submit applications to the court with false information. In particular, men asked to declare their wives missing or to establish the fact of independent child-rearing.
The existence of such court decisions created legal grounds for exemption from military service, obtaining a deferral from mobilization, and traveling outside the country.
The investigation established at least 21 cases of illegal decisions.
The scheme was organized by a lawyer who sought clients among conscripted men and initiated court proceedings. After the proceedings were opened, the cases, by prior agreement, went to a specific judge.
The judge made decisions without proper verification of the circumstances and declared women missing.
To ensure that cases were heard by the desired judge, the participants in the scheme manipulated the automated distribution – repeatedly submitting and withdrawing identical applications.
As a result, a controlled mechanism for obtaining court decisions was created, which were used to circumvent mobilization legislation and hinder the manning of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Currently, the judge, lawyer, and one of the conscripted men have been notified of suspicion. They are accused of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons.