Organisers of illegal border crossing offered men options to leave Ukraine: exposed
Kyiv • UNN
Two men were exposed for organizing an illegal scheme to smuggle Ukrainian citizens of military age across the state border during martial law, offering fake residence permits, volunteer driver registration or fake exit stamps for a fee of USD 2,500 to 10,000.
The Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office has served two men with a notice of suspicion of organizing a scheme to smuggle Ukrainian citizens across the state border. According to the investigation, the clients were offered to register as a volunteer driver, obtain a residence permit in Slovakia or an exit stamp. This was reported by UNN with reference to the press service of the Kyiv Prosecutor's Office.
A 43-year-old native of Belarus and a 48-year-old resident of Kyiv were exposed and served a notice of suspicion of organizing an illegal scheme of smuggling Ukrainian citizens of military age across the state border by prior conspiracy with other persons (Part 3 Art. 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)
The defendants offered assistance to men who are not allowed to travel abroad during martial law, and, according to investigators, promised to organize one of several options for leaving.
According to the prosecutor's office, the scheme looked like this:
- Initially, the "client" was offered a fictitious residence permit in Slovakia, which gave him the right to travel abroad. Such services were valued at $10,000.
- Another, cheaper option was to fictitiously register as volunteer drivers transporting medical supplies and humanitarian aid for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For this, one had to pay $2,500.
- Subsequently, the "client" was offered the option of leaving the country by obtaining a fictitious exit stamp in his passport. This service cost $8,500.
- A few days before the transfer of funds, one of the participants in the scheme received from the "client" his passport for traveling abroad in order to obtain an exit stamp.
- The client was given his passport, with a stamp of permission to travel abroad, after receiving 4,500 euros.
The investigative actions in the criminal proceedings are still ongoing, but both organizers were served a notice of suspicion of assisting in organizing illegal transportation across the state border of Ukraine - for mercenary motives and by prior conspiracy.
Recall
The Parliamentary Committee on National Security plans to close a loophole in the draft law on mobilization that allowed several people to register as guardians of one person with a disability to avoid the draft.
