Lubinec Calls for an Investigation into Artek Zakarpattia
At the “Artek Zakarpattia” children’s camp in Zakarpattia, conditions were discovered that, according to the findings of a monitoring visit by a representative of the ombudsman, do not meet the requirements for a safe stay for children. These include mold, mildew, problems with the water supply, an insufficient number of showers, and improperly equipped shelters. Dmytro Lubinets is demanding an investigation into who authorized the camp to operate under such conditions.
After receiving information about possible violations, Lubinets instructed his representative in the Zakarpattia region, Andriy Kryuchkov, to conduct an inspection. “I immediately instructed my representative in the Zakarpattia region, Andriy Kryuchkov, to conduct an inspection. When there are suspicions of such violations, the response must be immediate. And this was confirmed by the results, which are simply shocking,” the ombudsman stated.
At the time of the inspection, there were 287 children from 10 regions of Ukraine at the camp. Most of them came from frontline regions and areas that have been hardest hit by Russian aggression.
What problems were identified
According to Lubinets, the monitoring at the camp revealed substandard living conditions. Specifically, these included:
- mold and mildew;
- an insufficient number of showers;
- limited water supply;
- a lack of adequate privacy for children.
The ombudsman expressed particular concern about the safety of children during air raid alerts.
The shelter also raised concerns
According to Lubinets, the camp’s shelter is in poor condition. It is damp, has mold, and, as the ombudsman states, is not properly equipped. The children told the Ombudsman’s representatives that during air raid alerts, they mostly stay inside the building and follow the “two-wall rule.”
“The children said that during an air raid alert, they mostly stay inside the building and follow the ‘two-wall rule,’” Lubinets noted. According to him, the problems are not limited to the interior of the buildings. Some of the playgrounds on the camp grounds are in a state of disrepair, which could also pose a danger to the children.
Lubinec Demands That Those Responsible Be Identified
Following the inspection, the ombudsman sent letters to the head of the Transcarpathian Regional Military Administration and the head of the Main Directorate of the National Social Service in Transcarpathian Oblast.
Lubinec is demanding an investigation to determine who authorized the camp to begin operations under such conditions. “Letters have been sent immediately to the head of the Transcarpathian Regional Military Administration and the head of the Main Directorate of the National Social Service in Transcarpathian Oblast. I demand that an investigation be conducted to determine who authorized the camp to begin operations under such conditions, identify the responsible officials, and take urgent measures,” the ombudsman stated.
At this point, the focus is specifically on the demand to conduct an investigation and identify those responsible. Specific conclusions regarding who committed the violations and at what stage they occurred will be drawn based on the results of the investigation. He wrote about this on Telegram.
