Rada Committee on National Security: Arrests of military commanders endanger national unity and defense
Statements and actions during the war that could lead to the discrediting of the Armed Forces of Ukraine threaten the unity of the Ukrainian people and the defense capability of the country, according to a statement by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, as reported by committee member Iryna Friz (from the European Solidarity faction).
"The Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence at its meeting on January 24, 2025, preliminarily reviewed the situation regarding the charges against individual military personnel of the senior and highest officer corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Committee considers it necessary to emphasize: in the context of countering armed aggression from Russia, statements and actions that can lead to discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine pose a threat to the unity of our people and affect the defense capability of the state," Friz told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.
"While recognizing the need for a thorough study of events that could lead to serious consequences and harm the national security of the state, without questioning the competence of the relevant law enforcement agencies, the Committee sees in the decisions adopted signs of selective application of the law, as evidenced by the singling out of certain events and certain persons against the background of the lack of proper and timely legal assessment of other events and actions of other persons, which the Committee has repeatedly pointed out in its decisions. According to the members of the Committee, such an approach can lead to a violation of the fundamental principles of equality of all before the law and the court, objectivity, impartiality and justice," Friz said.
According to the statement "the application of excessively strict measures against active servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, active participants in military operations, in the opinion of the committee members, is disproportionate and could be based on an arbitrary interpretation of the norms of the current legislation."
The MP said that, in the opinion of the committee members, the demonstrative detention of officers and generals awarded state awards for participating in the repulse of armed aggression, the establishment of an excessive amount of bail for them, in the eyes of society, de facto puts an equal sign between especially dangerous criminals and people who defended the independence of Ukraine with weapons in their hands.
She also said the committee members noted the need for officials to avoid statements or comments that could influence the formation of an erroneous impression among citizens regarding the events under investigation, a premature idea of the guilt of servicemen whose actions have not yet received a legal assessment by the court.
Friz said the committee recalled the amendments to the legislation adopted by the Verkhovna Rada in March 2022, which provide for the introduction of "combat immunity" during the martial law regime. The MP said combat immunity provides for the possibility of a justified exemption of military personnel (in particular, representatives of the military command) from criminal liability for acts committed under martial law.
"The committee will continue to monitor the situation regarding the criminal prosecution of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other representatives of the security and defense forces," Friz said.
She also said a closed meeting of the committee on this issue will be held next week.