The State Bureau of Investigation has opened a case regarding the mistreatment of a TCC employee at the Odessa Pretrial Detention Center
The State Bureau of Investigations has opened a criminal investigation into an alleged human rights violation at the Odessa Detention Center. The investigation was prompted by a video circulating on social media showing one of the men held in a cell forcing another to crawl on the floor and fetch shoes with his teeth.
According to preliminary information from law enforcement, the victim of the abuse was an employee of one of the Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support (TCRS).
The case was opened under Part 2 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the possible abuse of power or official authority by employees of the facility who committed such an incident. Currently, SBI investigators are conducting a series of measures to verify the authenticity of the video footage, identify all individuals present in the footage, interview witnesses, and establish the exact circumstances of the incident.
It is noteworthy that the victimized military registration and enlistment office employee himself is currently in custody at the Odesa Pretrial Detention Center due to his own unlawful activities. The SBI’s Main Directorate is conducting a separate investigation against him on suspicion of torture (Part 3 of Article 127 of the Criminal Code) and unlawful deprivation of liberty or kidnapping (Part 2 of Article 146 of the Criminal Code), committed previously against mobilized citizens. The law enforcement agency promises to provide a comprehensive and objective legal assessment of both the actions of the detained TCC official while at liberty and the fact of abuse against him by other inmates within the correctional facility.
This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
The State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine has suspended the management of the Odesa Detention Center from their duties for the duration of an internal investigation following the release of a video online showing unlawful actions against an inmate. According to the non-governmental organization “Non-Stop Ukraine,” the detention center director, together with investigator Serhiy Y., organized a money-extortion scheme under which every newly arrived inmate must pay between $2,000 and $15,000, and those who refused were subjected to abuse by other inmates.
The Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment with the court against three investigators from one of the departments of the Nikopol District Police Department for abuse of authority. They unlawfully detained and tortured two citizens.
