SBI to check legality of “night” searches of KCSA employees
8 January 23:19
The State Bureau of Investigation will investigate the actions of officers of the Specialized Military Prosecutor’s Office who conducted “night searches” of Kyiv City Hall employees without a court order and violated their rights, including the inviolability of their homes. This was reported on the website of the mayor’s office, Komersant ukrainskyi reports
The chief of staff of the Kyiv City State Administration, Dmytro Zahumennyi, said that the State Bureau of Investigation had entered information about the actions of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in the field of defense of the Central Region into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations.
“The case on the preparation of allegedly illegal business trips for Kyiv City Council members has been going on for several years. During this time, the investigating authorities conducted “night” searches without a court order and made unfounded statements in the media. These actions are evidence of a politically motivated investigation, attempts to discredit me and a desire to block the work of the KCSA apparatus. So far, I have managed to get the SBI to investigate these facts. I hope that the pre-trial investigation will be carried out as actively as the investigation against me,” Zahumennyi said, referring to the decision of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv.
He noted that the information was entered into the Unified Register after a year of hard work by the KCSA, several lawsuits and numerous inquiries and appeals.
The KCSA Chief of Staff also emphasized that political issues should be put on the back burner during the war.
“It is worth remembering that we all have one common enemy. And we continue to work for the sake of fighting for the freedom, integrity and independence of Ukraine. We are directing all our efforts to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces, to support the city’s residents, and to ensure the efficient operation of the city’s utilities. This is the main thing now. I think all political issues should be put on the back burner for now,” Zagumenny emphasized.
He reminded that the claims of the investigating authorities relate to a draft letter on sending military personnel to the KMIA in April 2022.
Earlier, Zahumennyi denied the State Bureau of Investigation’s claim that he had allegedly illegally sent and facilitated the preparation of fake business trips for Kyiv City Council members. The official said he was preparing a lawsuit.
Zahumennyi added that he is accused of allegedly “assisting in the evasion of military personnel from performing their military service duties.” He explained that the accusations are based on the fact that in April 2022, he drafted a letter to send servicemen to the KIAA, which was later signed by the head of the KIAA.
“I have been interrogated about this case repeatedly throughout the year, and a large number of people have been interrogated and searched. I fully cooperated with the investigation. So I don’t understand why a group of about 10 law enforcement officers had to break into my house on Friday night and scare my family. They searched my house without a court order!” said Dmytro Zahumennyi.
