Nov. 22, 2024, 8:59 p.m.
(Photo: Collage by Intent)
In June 2022, the "Shlyakh" system was launched in Odesa region to simplify border crossing for male drivers and volunteers during martial law. Its main goal was to minimize corruption and streamline the permit process. However, over time, the "Shlyakh" system has become a tool for illegal departure of persons liable for military service.
This is stated in the material of the Center for Public Investigations.
The CPI found that in 2022, the then head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Maksym Marchenko, signed more than 400 permits for volunteer drivers to leave. More than 150 of them received the documents in the summer.
Among those who used the "Way" are representatives of business, charitable organizations, and even government officials. In particular, the orders include Andriy Bostan, a minister of the Revival Baptist Church and a representative of the Emmanuel Foundation, Oleksandr Dribnokhod , head of the religious community in the village of Strumok, and Taras Hryndak, head of the charity organization Ukraine. South. Volia charitable organization.
Among the entrepreneurs is Oleksandr Perutsky, philanthropist and director of the Perutsky Fashion Theater. He explained that in June 2022, he traveled to Vienna to receive humanitarian aid for the displaced.
Vadym Oksyuta, a lawyer known for his involvement in the cases of Serhiy Sternenko and Oleh Muratov, was also included in the list. He said that he was on his way to deliver vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
There were also some controversial characters. For example, Vitaliy Khemych, who is accused of misappropriating 2 million UAH of volunteer funds. Khemych was mobilized and the trial against him was suspended.
Other officials have also received travel permits: Yevhen Kaminsky, former head of the fishery, Arsen Poloziy, former consul of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, and Dmytro Zheman, former mayor of Odesa. The former deputy mayor of Odesa, Serhiy Tetyukhin, also traveled abroad. The official was killed in the spring of 2024 during the Russian attack on Odesa.
Relatives of officials also appeared on the lists. For example, Oleksandr Karacheban, the father of the prosecutor of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office, and Vitaliy Hremalyuk, who may be connected to the secretary of the Kyiv District Court of Odesa.
Among the deputies is Oleksiy Asaulenko from the Odesa City Council. He stated that he visited Germany for negotiations that secured medical aid for the military.
The journalists add that Oleksandr Ivanitskyi, a deputy of the Odesa City Council from the mayor's party "Trust the Deeds," was the first Odesa politician to receive permission to travel abroad under the "Shlyakh" system since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. The deputy chairman of the Odesa regional council and MP Oleksandr Urbanskyi also received a travel permit, and he traveled abroad twice over the summer.
Ірина Глухова