Denis Monastyrsky: Law enforcement officers investigate 247 criminal proceedings for embezzlement of humanitarian aid
Today, June 22, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in an exclusive interview with the TV channel “Rada” spoke about the abuse of humanitarian aid by the perpetrators, the course of the investigation and the punishment for them.
“I want to thank all the concerned citizens who help our army, the National Police, rescuers, just citizens. Volunteering has become a brand of Ukraine, our foreign partners are proud and impressed by how Ukrainians abroad and foreigners respond to the plight that is in Ukraine today. Therefore, today we celebrate the large amount of help that comes in. Including the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. We appreciate it very much,” said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to him, there are currently individual scammers who take advantage of people's weakness or their helpless state. Today, law enforcement officers are investigating 247 criminal proceedings for the theft of humanitarian aid. Of these, 29 people have been notified of suspicion. Further, the proceedings are transferred to the court.
Denis Monastyrsky recalled that at the beginning of the large-scale aggression, the Verkhovna Rada introduced a special article 201- 2 of the Criminal Code — “Illegal use for profit of humanitarian aid, charitable donations or gratuitous assistance”.
“For their part, the police respond promptly to appeals, the cyber police detects false information about the collection of funds,” the minister assured.
He also cited some of the most typical examples of fraud: “Most often it is committed to collecting funds for the purchase of high-traffic vehicles for fighters. Dealers buy such cars and sell them in Ukraine at market value. The second most common option is the purchase of humanitarian aid in the form of goods and their subsequent sale.”
According to the head, the most cynical fraud is cases when Ukrainians in the occupied territories paid large sums for evacuation routes, and merchants disappeared with money.
“Two leaders in fraud have already appeared in Ukraine: Kiev and Lviv region. Next — Kharkiv region and Kirovohrad region,” Denys Monastyrsky noted.
