Kyiv police have submitted an indictment to the court against a 36-year-old resident who allegedly assisted draft-age men in illegally leaving Ukraine for Moldova in exchange for money. He faces up to 9 years in prison.
The illegal activities of the Kyiv resident were documented last month by investigators from the Podil Police Department with the operational support of the Military Counterintelligence Department of the Security Service of Ukraine and under the procedural guidance of the Podil District Prosecutor's Office.
According to the investigation, the accused sought out potential 'clients' among male acquaintances aged 18 to 60, promising to help them cross the border illegally. He charged $18,000 for his 'services'.
The crossing was supposed to occur from Kyiv to the Odesa region, after which the individuals would walk across the border into Moldova outside of official checkpoints.
In August of this year, during a meeting at a restaurant in Podil, the suspect received the agreed sum of money from a 'client' and was immediately apprehended by law enforcement.
The actions of the accused are classified under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – organizing illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine, committed by a group of individuals based on prior conspiracy and for selfish motives.
The suspect had previously been informed of the suspicion, and now the indictment has been submitted to the court. He faces up to 9 years in prison, as well as the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in specific activities for up to three years, along with property confiscation.