In Dnipro, a regional council member insulted children with genetic disorders
In Dnipro, regional council member Olena Chyrkova made offensive remarks about children with genetic disorders during a video conference. The incident sparked public outrage, and Dmytro Lubinets responded to it.
This was reported with reference to local media.
It is reported that the incident occurred during a meeting of the budget committee, where additional funding for the Interregional Center for Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnostics in Kryvyi Rih was being discussed.
“The goal was to support the state program so that we wouldn’t have morons and others,” Chirkova stated during a discussion of the critical funding situation at the P.M. Veropotvelyan Interregional Center for Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnostics, proposing a change in the approach to funding the facility.
Mykola Lukashuk, Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, did not let the deputy’s words go unanswered. He stated that speaking disparagingly about children with genetic disorders is unacceptable.
“This is a violation of human dignity. And it is shameful. There can be only one stance here: respect for the children, for the parents, and for the doctors who fight every day for the health and lives of these young patients. No mandate, no position, and no emotions give anyone the right to speak in such a manner,” stated Mykola Lukashuk
Lukashuk initiated a review of this situation by the Committee on Parliamentary Ethics. The committee agreed to support the Interregional Center for Genetics and Prenatal Diagnostics.
The Ombudsman’s Response
Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets called the deputy’s words “outrageous and humiliating” and a violation of the children’s dignity. He announced the opening of proceedings regarding the public humiliation of dignity and emphasized the need for a legal assessment of Chirkova’s actions.
“I have decided to open proceedings regarding the public humiliation of children’s dignity. As the Ombudsman of Ukraine, I will take comprehensive measures to ensure that the competent authorities conduct a legal assessment of the official’s actions,” Lubinets noted.
The lawmaker decided to apologize
Chirkova herself initially denied her remarks, then apologized. On social media, she acknowledged that she had used unacceptable and offensive language regarding children with genetic disorders.
“This is my responsibility. I apologize to the parents, to the families who live with these challenges every day, to the doctors who fight for the health of these children, and to everyone whom my words offended. There is no room for disrespect in such matters. A public figure, even more so, cannot allow herself to act this way. I apologize once again,” the woman stated.
After this post, she closed her page.
Ukraine hasalready repatriated 2,048 deported children, while hundreds of thousands remain in Russia — Lubinets.
As a reminder, Ukrainehas repatriated over 6,000 people from Russian captivity, including 409 civilians.
Russian prisoners of war have appealed to dictator Putin.
