Massive draft evasion scheme exposed in Rivne – SBU

Source: Ukraine’s Security Service

On Wednesday,  Ukrainian police has uncovered a network of medical workers and who organized on a draft evasion scheme in Rivne.

The  group of 29 people was led an owner of a local real estate agency and two of her subordinates who helped draft-age men forge their medical records that granted exemptions from the military duty. The price tag for these forged documents ranged from $15,000 to $20,000.

The faked documents served as reasons for medical assessments confirming the diagnosis that allowed exemptions.

The real estate agency ownerused her connections to find eager draft evaders while the hefty reward money was later shared by the group.

Law enforcement officials detained three organizers of the scheme while they were receiving $16,700 from a new draft evader.

During raids at the suspects’ locations, officers seized over 14 million hryvnias, counterfeit medical certificates, notebooks, mobile phones, and computers containing evidence of the crimes.

The suspects now face charges under  Article 369 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (abuse of influence). They remain in custody and could face up to five years in prison.