The Security Service of Ukraine and the NABU have shut down a large-scale mobilization evasion scheme in one of the city district courts in Odesa region. The officials involved helped draft evaders to escape abroad using fake court decisions on independent upbringing of a child by a parent liable for military service.

The operation to document the crimes lasted over a year. During this time, eight members of the organized criminal group were uncovered: the chairman and two judges of this court, the deputy chief of staff, other staff members of the institution and affiliated lawyers, as well as other persons involved in the unlawful activities.

The investigation established that the judges made deliberately falsified decisions that gave the evaders grounds to travel abroad under the pretext of sole childcare.

The cost of such ‘services’ was USD 3,500 per potential conscript.

At that, the court made such numerous decisions without the actual presence of the parties in the courtroom.

The lawyers and their assistants were involved in the search for ‘clients’, offering on social media a supposedly legal way for men to travel abroad.

For secrecy, the participants in the scheme held ‘business’ meetings with potential conscripts in the office of a local law firm. There, they discussed mechanisms for unjustified deferment from mobilization and the payment for their services.

During the searches of the administrative premises of the court, as well as in the suspects’ private offices and homes, the SSU found documents, mobile phones and computers with evidence of the crime.

Based on the documented facts, the investigators served the chairman of the court, seven of his associates and other involved persons suspicion notices under the Articles of the CCU:

• 114-1 (obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine);
• 332 (organization of illegal border crossing);
• 368 (obtaining undue benefit);
• 369 (giving an undue benefit);
• 376-1 (unlawful interference with the work of automated justice systems).

Three judges additionally received disciplinary sanctions in the form of a motion for their dismissal.

The suspects face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.