Lubinec announced two criminal investigations following an inspection of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Election Commission

The Ombudsman’s Office conducted a monitoring visit to the Khmelnytskyi Regional Territorial Center for Civil Protection and Emergency Situations, during which staff members identified individuals with physical injuries. According to the individuals, they sustained these injuries during mobilization activities. 

According to the Ombudsman, the physical injuries were documented; however, these reports required not only documentation but also an immediate response. Lubinec instructed his Representative for Human Rights within the Security and Defense Sector, Vitaliy Nikulin, to forward the relevant materials to the Office of the Prosecutor General.

According to the Khmelnytskyi Regional Prosecutor’s Office, two criminal cases have been opened in connection with this incident.

Lubinec emphasized that one of the main focuses of his work as Ombudsman is not only to document potential human rights violations but also to ensure an appropriate response to them.

He also noted that not everyone is pleased with the results of the Ombudsman’s Office’s work, as documenting violations, demanding investigations, and initiating criminal proceedings can provoke resistance. According to Lubinets, such situations arise from time to time in the media.

The Ombudsman stated that he plans to continue documenting violations, demanding investigations, and seeking to hold those responsible accountable.

He also cited the example of a case in Odesa, where a court sentenced a serviceman from the Territorial Defense Forces and the Special Forces to seven years in prison for torture, unlawful deprivation of liberty, and kidnapping during mobilization operations.

Lubinec emphasized that performing official duties does not give anyone the right to break the law. According to him, the state’s powers must be exercised within the bounds of the law, and every decision must take into account human rights, health, and dignity.

The Ombudsman also stated that the mobilization system needs to be overhauled. In his view, harmful practices that developed under the previous leadership of the Ministry of Defense should not be carried over into the new system but must be eliminated in favor of legality, respect, and trust.

This was reported by Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights.

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As a reminder, a scheme in which men fled abroad through the TCC was uncovered in Kharkiv.

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