Illegal detention and broken ribs: what was discovered at the Mykolaiv TCC

Six men who were not legally required to be detained were released from the Mykolaiv Regional Territorial Center for Mobilization and Military Service after an inspection by representatives of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights. Among them was a man with broken ribs, as well as individuals who had legal grounds for deferment from mobilization.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, reportedon the human rights violations identified during the inspection of the Mykolaiv Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support .

According to the ombudsman, the inspection began after relatives of a man who had allegedly suffered broken ribs during mobilization activities filed a complaint. After that, contact with him was lost for nearly three weeks, and his family did not know where he was.

During a visit by representatives of the Commissioner to the assembly point of the Mykolaiv Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support, it was determined that this was not an isolated incident. Among those released was a man with broken ribs who is entitled to a deferment from mobilization because he is the sole caregiver for his 80-year-old mother.

Also among those detained was the father of a child with a disability. According to Lubinets, another high-profile incident occurred during his detention. It has been preliminarily established that a police officer may have kicked the man’s son. Afterward, the child was left alone on the street in the evening, and due to the stress he experienced and his diabetes, his condition deteriorated.

In connection with this, the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office has already launched a pre-trial investigation under the article concerning the abuse of authority by law enforcement officers.

In addition, representatives of the ombudsman identified four more men who, according to Lubinets, were also being unlawfully detained. Two of them have serious illnesses; one has viral hepatitis, and another has serious knee problems.

All six men were released. They were given the opportunity to file paperwork to obtain a deferment or undergo additional medical examinations.

Based on the results of the investigation, reports were sent to the State Bureau of Investigations and the prosecutor’s office regarding possible instances of abuse of authority, unlawful deprivation of liberty, and endangering a person’s safety by certain police officers and members of the Territorial Defense Forces.

Dmytro Lubinets emphasized that mobilization is necessary to defend the state, but every case of a possible human rights violation must receive a proper legal assessment, and those responsible must be held accountable.

Андрій Колісніченко