SBU, police bust fake medical certificate scheme to dodge draft in Kyiv

The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police have dismantled another mobilization evasion scheme operating in Kyiv.

"As a result of comprehensive measures, a local lawyer was detained who was selling fictitious certificates for draft evaders. He involved another lawyer and three doctors from well-known medical institutions in the capital of Ukraine in his illegal activity," the SBU said in a statement on Tuesday.

During searches of the defendants' places of work and residence, the following cash was found: over UAH 7 million, over $250,000 and EUR 16,000. In hryvnia equivalent, this amounts to over UAH 17 million.

"According to the investigation, in order to guarantee military-obligated clients a deferral from conscription or removal from military registration, the perpetrators forged medical reports for them about the men's alleged serious diagnoses," the SBU reported.

As the investigation established, the participants in the "scheme" acted in collusion and clear coordination with each other and had an established algorithm of interaction: from finding clients to selling them fake documents.

The defendants also offered the evaders "protection" for money through fictitious employment in one of the capital's state institutions.

Law enforcement officers documented the crimes of the defendants and detained the organizer of the deal when he received a new tranche of bribes.

Currently, the detainee and his two accomplices - a lawyer and a cardiologist - have been notified of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 3 of Article 369-2 (abuse of influence); Part 5 of Article 27 and Part 4 of Article 354 (accomplice in bribing an employee of an enterprise, institution or organization, committed by a group of persons in prior conspiracy).

The perpetrators are in custody. They face up to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property. An investigation is underway to bring all participants in the illegal activity to justice.