Odesa Court Seizes 25 Blank Summonses in NGO Investigation for Hooliganism

In Odesa, during a search of the office of the NGO Ukraine is a Mother, law enforcement officers found 25 forms of summonses with signatures and seals that were not filled out.

This is stated in the materials of the criminal case, which was initiated by the Malynovskyi District Court.

On February 27, 2025, the investigating judge of the Malynovskyi District Court of Odesa partially granted the investigator's request to seize property seized during a search in criminal proceedings for group hooliganism.

This refers to the events of January 24, 2025, on Mykhailo Boltenko Street in Odesa, where a group of people, according to the investigation, grossly violated public order with obvious disrespect for society. A criminal proceeding was opened over this incident under Part 2 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (hooliganism committed by a group of persons).

During a search on February 21 in one of the premises where the investigative actions were conducted, law enforcement officers seized 25 blank summonses to clarify military registration data with the signature of an official and the seal of a state institution, three Apple smartphones, five covers of service IDs with the symbols of a volunteer battalion, and two seals, including those of the NGO Ukraine is Mother.

The investigator asked the court to seize all the seized property. The representative of the property owner did not object to the consideration of the motion without the participation of the party. The court agreed with this procedure.

The court concluded that some of the seized items - namely, the subpoenas and cell phones - are material evidence that may contain traces of the offense or confirm the relationship between the defendants in the case. Therefore, these items were seized with a ban on their use, disposal or alienation.

At the same time, the court did not find sufficient evidence of their connection to the criminal offense as to the five covers of the IDs, as well as two seals with the symbols of the volunteer battalion and the NGO.

In July 2024, the Center for Public Investigations made a film "Guarding the Odesa C auldron" about civil society organizations. It combined three text-based investigations about more than 30 civil society organizations, including the NGO "Ukraine is a Mother":

• "Volunteers" for budgetary funds, bodyguards a la volunteers, and government-backed groups: who is behind Odesa's CFs
• Guardians of Odesa's rear: who is behind the civil society groups
• Guarding the Odesa "cauldron".

Already in September 2024, after an investigation by the CPR, prosecutors exposed the deputy head of the "Law Enforcement Assistance Unit" for corruption. He is suspected of helping to evade the mobilization of persons liable for military service.

Ірина Глухова