TCC servicemen served with notices of suspicion of torture in Kharkiv – SBI
Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), under the procedural guidance of the Kharkiv specialized prosecutor’s office in the defense sphere of the Eastern region, served notices of suspicion of torture and shooting to a group of servicemen from one of the district territorial recruitment centers (TCC) in Kharkiv and military personnel from other units acting in concert.
"The defendants were served with notices of suspicion of torture committed by a group of persons upon prior conspiracy… Among the defendants is a TCC major who held a leadership position and directed the actions of the accomplices. To carry out criminal activities, the major involved servicemen from the security unit of the same center, as well as servicemen whose powers included recruiting candidates for military units for further military service by conscription during mobilization," the SBI reported.
According to the investigation, under the pretext of "carrying out measures for notification and conscription of citizens for military service during mobilization," the defendants broke into a private residence. During a so-called search, they presented themselves as SBU employees and, using physical force and threats, demanded that civilians confess to involvement in criminal activity related to the sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. When one of the men tried to resist, he was wounded with a firearm.
Following this, the defendants forcibly brought two victims to the TCC premises, where they held them for a long time, beat them, threatened them with weapons, and forced them to provide information the accomplices were interested in. In addition, they forced one of the victims to sign documents, including one regarding the cancellation of a mobilization deferment.
Ultimately, one of the men was released, and the other managed to escape on his own.
The investigation established that six people were involved in the shooting and torture, acting together according to a pre-developed and agreed plan. Some are TCC servicemen, while others belong to other military units.
The sanctions of the articles provide for up to 10 years in prison.
The pretrial investigation is ongoing. All circumstances of the incident and other persons who may be involved in the crime are being established.
