Odesa neurologist gets three years suspended sentence for helping to avoid draft

In Odesa, a court found guilty a neurologist at a city medical center who was involved in a scheme to forge medical documents to obtain a fictitious disability in order to avoid mobilization. According to the investigation, the doctor, along with other participants, helped the couple prepare false certificates and extracts so that the man of military age could be released from service.

This is evidenced by the verdict of the Khadzhybeyskyi District Court of Odesa.

According to the investigators, the scheme worked like this: relatives of men who were subject to mobilization were issued "serious illnesses" for money. After that, they were assigned a disability group through the MSEC, which made it possible to avoid conscription.

In this case, it was an Odesa couple. The husband was supposed to serve, and his wife was given a fictitious diagnosis of serious hip damage. The scheme involved traumatologists, other doctors and intermediaries. They issued retroactive certificates, prepared X-rays, hospital discharges, and other documents that were supposed to simulate a long-term illness.

The neurologist received the already formed package of documents, checked them and prepared a referral to the MSEC. In addition, he taught the woman what to say at the commission, what complaints and names of medical institutions to memorize so as not to raise doubts.

In court, the doctor pleaded guilty to the charges. The court qualified his actions as obstructing the legitimate work of the Armed Forces. The neurologist was sentenced to five years in prison, but was released on probation for three years. During this time, he must be under probation supervision, not travel abroad without permission, and report any changes in his place of residence or work.

The court also found guilty Oleksandr Kostritsa, a doctor at outpatient clinic No. 2 of the Centralized Primary Health Care Center No. 3, who demanded and received a bribe for promising to influence employees of City Hospital No. 11. He was fined UAH 34 thousand.

According to the verdict, on December 6, 2024, the doctor offered the patient to draw up fictitious documents about alleged inpatient treatment without actual hospitalization. The patient planned to submit these papers to the MSEC. The doctor asked for $600 for the "help".

Анна Бальчінос