A Ukrainian Woman in Germany Was Accused of Insulting Someone Based on an Absurd Accusation
In Germany, criminal proceedings have been opened against a Ukrainian citizen who works at a fitness club on suspicion of insulting another person. The story gained widespread attention after it was posted on Facebook.
According to reports, the Ukrainian woman, who works at a German fitness club, received an official notice from the police informing her that a criminal case had been opened against her under the charge of “insult.” The complaint filed with law enforcement was based on a statement made by one of the gym’s patrons. The man claims he heard the employee use inappropriate language about him during a private conversation with another client.
The Ukrainian woman denies the allegations and states that she did not make any such remarks. She shared her story on the social media platform Threads, after which it spread among Ukrainians living in Germany.
It is worth noting that, according to the fitness club’s management, the complainant has repeatedly provoked conflicts with staff and other visitors. In particular, the man had groundlessly accused employees of secretly filming him, for which he had previously been officially banned from visiting all facilities in this chain.
However, despite the complainant’s systematic disruptive behavior and the lack of direct evidence or CCTV footage, the German police still opened an investigation. The fact is that in Germany, personal insult (Beleidigung) is a criminal offense, so upon receiving a corresponding complaint, the police are required to launch an investigation, even if there is no direct evidence or CCTV footage available at the initial stage.
Currently, the Ukrainian woman is forced to seek legal representation, find a lawyer, and defend her professional reputation. Lawyers and representatives of the Ukrainian community in Germany recommend, in such situations, filing counter-complaints regarding false accusations (falsche Verdächtigung) and defamation (Verleumdung), as well as to obtain official statements from the establishment’s management regarding previous violations by the complainant.
Source: “Love Ukraine. Ours Abroad”
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