Deputy Head of the National Police Maxim Tsutkiridze: The missing headquarters of the Odessa Marine Border Guard detachment Chertkov had significant debt obligations. A few days before his disappearance, he lost a large sum in a casino
The “coronavirus” year made its adjustments to the criminogenic situation in the country. About how organized crime has adapted to the conditions of the pandemic, which has changed after the introduction of the Criminal Offenses Act and the investigation of the most high-profile cases in an interview with Censor. Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine Maxim Tsuckiridze told the NET.
“SO FAR THERE IS NO DATA INDICATING THAT THE MISSING BORDER GUARD CHERTKOV LEFT ODESSA”
— Recently, your name is increasingly associated with the Deputy Head of the Office of the President Oleg Tatarov. After the former head of the “Ukrbud” Mikitas testified against Tatarov in the case of money theft during the construction of housing for the National Guard, the National Police opened criminal proceedings against Mykitas, accusing him of kidnapping a person. And later, the journalists of “Bigus.info” found out that you live in the Aristocrat residential complex, where your mother-in-law bought an apartment, although it is material evidence in the same case of theft of state funds. Not too many coincidences? How can you explain them?
— I will start with Tatarov and the criminal proceedings you mentioned. It was not opened immediately after Mikitas gave testimony to our colleagues from NABU. Events developed a little differently.
The Main Investigation Department investigated the proceedings against citizens of the Chechen Republic who were engaged in extortion, and some even killed people - this is a recorded fact. Mikitas, when he was under a precautionary measure in the form of detention in criminal proceedings investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, met one of the arrested. I do not know what kind of agreements were in them, and when they changed the precautionary measure, Mikitas maintained relations with this citizen. He assured Mikitas that he could provide him with services to extort money from a person named after him. During the documentation, it was in the Main Investigation Department that we received this information. But predicting such consequences and comparisons, which we are now talking about, deliberately did not take this episode to the Main Investigation Department. Police investigators in the city of Kiev worked on it. Then the police responded instantly, and the hostage was free within hours of the crime.
And if you look at the materials, the Main Investigation Department did not give any instructions to the Kiev investigators, these materials were not requested. To link this case to the NABU investigation and to say that they gave a message to the order is at least incorrect.
All those involved in this particular episode were detained. A number of searches were carried out for persons involved in it.
Some of them agreed with the investigation and give evidence. They changed their precautions.
I understood the position of Mikita's lawyers, who began to associate this case with the incriminating evidence. This is such a kind of defense system, built on leveling the evidence obtained during the investigation. But in addition to the National Police, which is investigating the case, there is also a group of prosecutors who carry out procedural guidance, as well as investigative judges who have maintained precautionary measures. Each of these bodies made decisions based on the evidence collected.
At what stage is the investigation of this case?
— Now the examination of handwriting in the debt note, which the victim was forced to write in the car when they were stolen, is ongoing.
By the way, lawyers said that the correspondence between the customer and the organizer of the kidnapping was falsified. We are talking about screenshots from phones that were added to the materials of criminal proceedings.
- Where did they come from?
— A person suspected of organizing a crime, in order to record an agreement with the customer, took screenshots of messages from him and transferred sms to his own phone. To remain fixated on the promised reward.
— How long has this group of Chechens been documented?
— A year and a half. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Art. 255 of the Criminal Code (creation of a criminal organization) in early 2020.
— Crimes committed all over the country or only in Kiev?
— In different regions of the country.
— So for what money did your mother-in-law purchase real estate in the Aristocrat residential complex and why exactly there? Where did she get such wealth?
— Back in 2013, from the same developer, the mother-in-law bought an apartment in progress, which she then sold four times more expensive. In 2016, I bought a new apartment in this same residential complex, then no one suspected that this residential complex could become a defendant in criminal proceedings. The investigation into the theft of state funds became known in 2018. Therefore, there can be no coincidence.
— Investigating the Maidan cases, SBI investigators and prosecutors of the Prosecutor General's Office are digging into the truth about what happened then, in particular in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. For example, as Alexey Donsky told in an interview with Censor.net, in the case of the abduction of Lutsenko and Verbitsky and the murder of the latter, the investigation established that the actions of the organizers of the kidnapping were coordinated with the then leadership of the ministry. And in the middle of the department was it known about it?
— If this really happened, suspicions should probably be served accordingly. I haven't heard anything about it.
My competence at that time did not include investigating and supervising criminal proceedings against participants in the Revolution of Dignity or law enforcement officers.
- Last autumn, criminal proceedings were opened for the theft of more than 100 million hryvnias provided for the construction of a memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. Was it possible to determine where the money went?
— It all started with the fact that the Security Service of Ukraine received the results of the audit of the financial and economic activities of the National Memorial Complex of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred from the Northern Office of the State Audit Service. With the materials, they came to us to start criminal proceedings and find out where the funds went. A number of investigative actions were carried out. During the searches, the design and estimate documentation was removed. Three examinations are assigned. This is a forensic economic examination and two forensic economic, which should answer a number of questions. How much money was spent, whether the real cost of construction works corresponds to the declared and others.
— Why two forensic and economic examinations?
The second was appointed this year in May. This is due to the fact that there are many objects of study.
Examinations are still ongoing. This is a complex process that does not depend on us. We are waiting for the conclusions of experts. When they are, we will comment on the results to you, because we understand how important this information is for society.
Suspicions have not been reported to anyone yet?
— No, only according to the results of the examinations, the investigators will give an assessment of the presence of the crime in the actions of officials.
— Recently, the mayor of Kyiv Vitaly Klitschko said about pressure on him from the President's Office. This was preceded by a number of investigative actions carried out by representatives of law enforcement agencies. Why did the mass searches come to the structural units of the Kyiv City State Administration and municipal enterprises right now?
— There were no National Police investigators among these law enforcement agencies.
— Klitschko also stated that the Kiev authorities have appealed to law enforcement agencies with a demand to provide a report on the status of cases in respect of which the Kyiv City State Administration handed over documents following the results of internal audits. According to him, since 2015, the Department of Internal Financial Control and Audit of the State Administration of Ukraine has carried out 385 inspections and handed over materials to law enforcement officers on 316 audit objects. “According to the information we have, to date, 168 criminal proceedings have been registered on these materials or materials are attached to cases initiated earlier. But the question is, what is the situation with other things?” Do you know anything about these cases? Do you comment?
— Since 2014 and until now, if we take not only audits, but also our initiative materials on the activities of the KCDA, 269 criminal proceedings have been opened. Mostly on the facts of squandering, abuse of office and official negligence. At this time, 30 criminal proceedings have been referred to the court with indictments.
— What level of officials are held accountable?
— There was no high level, this is not our subordination. For this, there are other law enforcement agencies that investigate such criminal proceedings.
— What about the case regarding the theft of funds allocated for the construction of the Podilsko-Voskresensky bridge?
— This case is being investigated by the Main Investigation Department. There are examinations that establish that, nevertheless, some payments for repair work were overstated. We are currently conducting further investigative actions together with the Prosecutor General's Office.
— The National Police is investigating the disappearance of the officer of the State Border Service Chertkov, who has information about the system of state border protection from Crimea to the Danube. Did you manage to install something? When was the last time he was seen and who? What happened on the eve of the disappearance?
— Criminal proceedings are investigated under Article 115 of the Criminal Code (premeditated murder). When it comes to missing persons, we always start an investigation with this article. This is standard practice.
Preliminary conclusions are too early to draw. The media had information referring to the words of his wife that he had returned home. We have denied it.
Why did she tell the truth?
— We interrogated her, in particular with the involvement of a polygraph expert. He was trying to get home. She said that they had a conflict at the domestic level. This is confirmed by the testimony of neighbors and notes that were seized during the search in his office. He wrote it all down.
In addition, he had significant debt obligations. In particular, in front of colleagues. A few days before his disappearance, he lost a large sum in a casino. One of the last notes: “I can't pay you anymore.”
To whom did he write it? Was it found at his place of service?
— Yes. To whom I wrote, it is not yet clear.
Why did they decide to be one of the last?
There is a date. He, by the way, was really trying to get home. It would be incorrect to retell what they talked about with his wife, the only thing I can say is that he left home and his whereabouts are currently unknown.
Two days after the statement of disappearance, we located the person who saw him in Odessa. There is no other information about his whereabouts. But the search continues, operational measures and investigative actions are actively carried out.
He could have left Odessa. Is there any data on this?
- So far there is no data that would indicate that the missing border guard Chertkov left Odessa.
— I understood correctly: he recorded when and from whom he borrowed funds?
— Yes, he recorded when and from whom he borrowed money, as well as in which institutions he played. During questioning, we confirmed this information.
What does his leadership say? Did he have any problems in the service?
The day he disappeared, he went to work. He was called by the manager and said that the previously scheduled meeting had been canceled, so he went home.
Did no one threaten him because of debts?
— No such facts have been established.
Let's talk about another equally resonant disappearance. A lawyer for the family of the missing Judge Chaus told us in an interview that Chaus' mother applied to various law enforcement agencies, including the National Police. Why don't you investigate his disappearance?
Why did you decide not to investigate? We investigate.
— From the conversation with the lawyer, I realized that the SBI refused, the SBU is investigating, there was no reaction from the National Police and the Prosecutor General's Office.
— Criminal proceedings at the request of Chaus' mother have been opened, she was questioned. The circle of people closest to him is also interviewed, we find out what his behavior was recently, what he was talking about.
— Moldovan prosecutors appealed to the Ukrainian side with a request to provide legal assistance in the investigation of the abduction of ex-judge Mykola Chaus. This is reported by NewsMaker. Did the investigators of the National Police communicate with them about this? Maybe they turned to them themselves to get information that they already have?
— Before applying for international legal assistance, it is necessary to carry out a complex of investigative actions on the territory of our state. After that, a decision will be made on appeal.
Colleagues from Moldova did not contact us.
— Moldovan law enforcement officers have identified the persons involved in the kidnapping of Ukrainian judge Mykola Chaus. Among them were Ukrainians. This was stated in an interview with “Glavkom” by the head of the investigative commission of the Moldovan parliament on the abduction of Chaus Vasily Nestase. Do the investigators of the National Police know who these people are? Have they been questioned?
— Not yet.
Do you plan to respond to his video message?
— Investigators have already reviewed them, an examination will be appointed.
“WE HAVE LAUNCHED THREE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS FOR HOOLIGANISM AND THREATS AGAINST ARMY EMPLOYEES. WE CONNECT THIS SERIES WITH EACH OTHER”
— Another of the recent resonant events is the assassination of the deputy head of ARMA Pavlenko. He was shot, and he, as is known from open sources, is currently under the protection of SBU officers. This is not the first attempt. Is the National Police investigating other cases related to threats against Pavlenko himself and other employees of the agency? Have you found out what caused the threats?
I would start with the events that preceded these threats. The Main Investigation Department is investigating the proceedings regarding one of the violations in the law, during the investigation of which a significant amount of funds was seized. They were arrested and transferred to ARMA. Then we learned that these funds were gone. On this occasion, criminal proceedings were opened, investigators conducted a large number of investigative actions and identified a number of individuals who, according to fake court decisions, took this money from ARMA.
A number of searches were carried out, in particular, in one of the law offices, in which materials with a written algorithm of actions for taking these funds were seized, which gives us grounds to argue that current lawyers are involved in this crime.
The investigation is ongoing. We have an understanding of who directly did this, in the near future we will get the result in the form of suspicions.
— Did the management of ARMA contribute to the receipt of these funds?
— We do not have such data at the moment. But, as far as I know from the media, there is a criminal case against the employees of the agency and the management, which is being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation.
What about threats and attacks?
It started after the funds disappeared. We have launched three criminal proceedings for hooliganism and threats. Remember, there was information about a thrown pig's head? In another case, an airsoft grenade was thrown into a car. Well, and the last case with the assassination attempt. We connect this series with each other.
— And who was given money for a fake decision?
— Given to an individual who has not provided any documents regarding such receipts and who has some involvement in them. The investigation established that such a decision of the Pechersk district court, according to which they were received, does not actually exist.
— Why were no suspicions raised with the officials who gave these funds?
First, it is necessary to prove that there was intent in their actions. Secondly, as I said, we are moving in relation to the direct executors who came with this fake court decision to ARMA, withdrew funds and transferred them to different accounts. We work.
— According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the agency paid more than 500 thousand dollars for fake decisions. You told about a case where the amount is 400. Are there any more episodes?
— In fact, there is another episode for 113 thousand euros and 9, 300 dollars. We combined this case with the first trial.
— More than 3.2 million US dollars of the so-called criminal “common law” was seized from those detained recently in violation of the law. Do you plan to transfer them to ARMA as well?
Are you worried? (Smiling, auth.) Seriously, lawyers are also working and trying to remove the arrest from these funds. We are trying together with the Attorney General's Office to defend him.
As part of the legal procedures in the future, I do not exclude the transfer of these funds to ARMA. I hope that all those involved in the previous case have reached the appropriate conclusions.
— At the last meeting of the National Security Council, the first results of the fight against willpower in the law and criminal authorities were discussed. Secretary of the National Security and Security Council Danilov noted that now there is not a single wolf in the law left in the country who would be free. Someone left alone, someone was forcibly deported, some are already in places of imprisonment. Did the law that was passed a year ago really prove to be such an effective tool, did the sanctions lists work?
— Before this instrument, our legislation was so decriticized and humanized that from the post-Soviet countries, where it was tough on this category of criminals, all sorts of evil spirits who did not plan to do anything good, except steal, kill, commit other crimes, came to us. Where countries reacted in time at the legislative level, such as happened with us, was not certain. Therefore, the law has undoubtedly become an important tool for us. Just like such volitional decisions on sanctions lists. The decision of the National Security Council on sanctions lists gives us more opportunities in the fight against organized crime.
— Let me clarify the question: what worked to achieve such results, which Danilov spoke about, the law or lists?
— Complex of measures. Over the past year, since the adoption of the law, we have had successful results both in terms of violations in the law, in relation to “provisions” and in relation to criminal authorities. But the sanctions of the National Security Council strengthened our position. Let me give one of the examples. We detained one of the so-called “sightseers” who went to the notary to get permission for his wife to take the children abroad. He is on the sanction lists, the notary reacted to this and turned to the police.
Are you watching the events taking place in Belarus?
— Yes.
— Former Belarusian officer Igor Makar, who published the recordings of conversations of the head of the KGB of Belarus about the planning of the assassination of Pavel Sheremet, testified to the investigators of the National Police. After that, in one of the interviews, he stated that he provided enough grounds to claim that the Belarusian special services were involved in the order to kill Pavel Sheremet. Is that really so? Is there any evidence to support this? Are you investigating the “Belarusian footprint” in this case?
— He is not an investigator, not a prosecutor or a judge to assess whether there are enough grounds.
Regarding the Belarusian footprint, as you called it. We did not hide before that the activity of Pavel Sheremet, given how he spoke about the current Belarusian authorities, was one of the versions. Investigators studied what were the conflict situations, publications, statements.
Those individuals about whom Macar provided information were dismissed from the services in which they worked long before Sheremet's murder. In addition, you need to establish whose voices are recorded on the recording that he transmitted. In addition to the phonoscopic examination, it is necessary to wait for the execution of a number of international legal orders. Currently, international assignments are directed to the Republic of Belarus, Lithuania, the United States of America, the Russian Federation. We are waiting for their implementation in order to confirm or deny the version of a possible Belarusian trace in the Sheremet case.
“We all see what is happening now with opposition journalists in Belarus. So let's talk about obstacles to journalism in our country and about threats to journalists. At what stage of investigation of criminal proceedings according to the statement of the editor-in-chief of Censor.net Yuri Butusov that he was threatened by MP Murayev after the broadcast on the TV channel “Ukraine 24"?
— We have started criminal proceedings on the fact of threats against the journalist. A number of investigative actions were carried out. In particular, the DVRs were removed from the studio in which the participants of this incident were located. The victim, Muraev and his guards were interrogated.
Now the editor-in-chief of Censor.net says that there were threats, Muraev - that he did not express such threats, and this is confirmed by his guards. Now it is planned to hold simultaneous interrogations with all participants in this conflict. Since there are contradictions in the testimonies we have obtained, we must record what exactly was said.
— As Yuriy Butusov wrote, there were other witnesses. I understand that you can not tell all the details of the case, so we will wait for the results. In the meantime, tell me why there are no results in the case of listening in the apartment of the journalist of the program “Schemes” Mikhail Tkach?
— We received information from the journalist that he found a hole in his apartment. An investigative task force arrived there, and with the involvement of technicians specialized in listening, the premises were inspected. No technical means of removal were found. In addition, the specialists we have interviewed say that this hole is not typical for the installation of this type of means.
Then the journalist put forward another version that this hole was probably made in order to let some substance in there. Now a construction and technical examination is appointed to understand how this hole appeared.
For the period of the investigation, we offered him, as, by the way, Yuriy Butusov, protection. Both refused.
— Did the CCTV cameras work to understand who entered the house to make such a hole?
We don't know exactly when he appeared. Of course, the cameras worked, but they did not find anything of interest to the investigation.
— How many cases are investigated in which the victims are journalists?
— In total during 2020-2021, 306 criminal proceedings were initiated 214 — last year and 92 — this year) on articles related to threats, violence, intentional obstruction, encroachment on the life of journalists. Of those, 23 we headed to court.
— What about the arson of Shabunin's parents' house and the embedded explosive devices found under the apartments of his mother and mother-in-law, is there any new information?
So far, there is no real result in solving these crimes. A fire and technical examination was carried out, it was established that this is an arson. We detained one of the criminal groups that specialized in such arsons in the Kiev region, and there were several clues that indicated that they may be involved in these crimes as well. For example, an identical ignition mixture was used. But after conducting investigative actions, we rejected this version.
As for the grenades, they found out that they do not have an explosive mixture, as in the case of the attempt on Pavlenko. Unfortunately, I have to state that the investigative actions that are ongoing, so far do not allow us to uncover this criminal offense. At the same time, after what happened, both relatives and Shabunin himself were offered protection. He said he didn't need it.
— Another high-profile case is that of veteran Andriy Pekelny from Ternopil region, who is suspected of killing one of the six attackers on his house. Did they take this case to the General Assembly, as promised by the Minister? How has the qualification changed?
- Yes, they took away. It is now being investigated under Article 118 of the Criminal Code (exceeding the limits of necessary self-defense). Hellenic had his restraining order changed from round-the-clock house arrest to overnight.
— Why was it necessary to take the case to the civil service? Local law enforcement could not adequately qualify the actions of a man who defended himself and his mother?
— We took away for professional assessment what actually happened there, which was the cause of the conflict. This is an ordinary domestic conflict that arose at a disco and grew into mass. The infernal went home, pursued by 6 men. One of them was the culprit of the conflict, he pushed Hellenic in a disco.
What about those who persecuted him? Will their actions be given a legal assessment?
— Two more criminal proceedings under Part 4 of Article 296 and Article 162 (this is hooliganism committed by a group of persons to inflict grievous bodily harm and violation of the integrity of the dwelling) are being investigated against persons who persecuted Pekelny.
Suspicions raised?
— Not yet.
— In what cases are they not punished for self-defense if it leads to death? Where are the “limits of necessary defense” and who defines them?
— In cases of invasion of life, encroachment on housing, if the person who defended himself could not otherwise prevent this encroachment. Of course, provided that this is proven in the course of the investigation by the evidence collected. This is provided for by the position of the Supreme Court and the Criminal Code.
“ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF DESTABILIZATION IS A LARGE NUMBER OF FALSE REPORTS ABOUT THE MINING OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES”
— How has crime changed in the “coronavirus” year?
“We see a 20% reduction in serious and particularly serious crimes during this period. These are crimes such as theft, in particular in households, illegal possession of vehicles, grievous bodily harm and murder. At the same time, the number of detected official crimes and suspicions of them increased.
In addition, during this period, we found more drug labs and persons involved in the sale of narcotic substances than in the previous one. More cases on the facts of drug sales are also directed to the court.
— Do people miss quarantine restrictions and buy more drugs?
— I would not associate it with the pandemic (smiles — auth.). Although it affected some offenses. In particular, the number of cases of domestic violence, domestic conflicts, and light bodily injuries increased.
Unfortunately, the number of suicides committed by minors has increased in the last year. The reasons are different: problems in the family, with peers and bullying, violence, unrequited love, etc.
How do you explain the decrease in crime?
— We began to work more systematically on organized groups that committed multi-episode, professionally planned crimes. Due to the fact that such groups were neutralized, serial thefts, robberies, robberies decreased. As well as murder. For example, this year out of 540 intentional murders, 533 were discovered. This is the first such result in the history of the police.
— Wait! And before they could not or did not want to?
- Here is a complex of reasons. Starting with the fact that the law on criminal offenses has been in force for almost a year, and this has made it possible to unload the investigators. The criminal unit began to work better. Excellent work with the prosecutor's office, the Security Service of Ukraine. I have the right to say this, because I have been working in the investigative bodies for a long time, there is something to compare with.
— What percentage of custom kills in the numbers you gave?
This year, there have been three murders committed. Everything is revealed, performers are established. Last year, out of 12 custom killings, 9 were discovered. We work with others. Such crimes are the most complex.
— After the murder of Anar Mamedov, which was committed in Dnipro, the performer has not yet been detained. Am I wrong?
— He really escaped and was declared an international wanted man. But the police established this person in fact in half a day.
— Has the customer been identified in the case of deputy Sobolev, whose three-year-old son was killed in Kiev?
“Now we understand the ultimate motive of the criminals and how they were guided. Unfortunately, the child became an accidental victim.
— Is it possible to prevent custom-made killings?
— Yes. Last year we warned 9 custom killings, this year — 3.
— Did the aggravation on the border with Russia affect the criminogenic situation?
— I can not say that there was a sharp increase in a certain number of crimes, we did not observe any special changes. But to a certain extent, the aggressor country influenced the criminogenic situation in general, challenging the law and other criminal representatives. This forced us, for example, to make a comprehensive study in the Odessa and Nikolaev regions. That is why the decision of the National Security Council on sanctions lists is so important for us in particular.
— That is, when former law enforcement officers with extensive operational experience say that the guards in law cooperate with the special services, are these not fables?
Yes, you can talk about it with confidence. I would like to add that another of the most common forms of destabilization in recent times is a large number of false reports about the mining of our critical infrastructure facilities. We record that messages to the mailboxes of employees of such organizations, in order to provoke panic, come from temporarily uncontrolled territories and the Russian Federation. Usually daily such messages are from 10 to 30. And we are forced to react, to go to the scene, to evacuate people.
Together with the SBU we are trying to block such mailings. As a rule, they are carried out in automatic mode.
Has there been an increase in illegal weapons lately?
— No. The number of crimes related to the illegal handling of weapons and ammunition has decreased. In terms of numbers, in five months of last year 6,8 thousand criminal proceedings were investigated, and this year for the same period — 6,6 thousand.
I would like to note the effectiveness of investigations and the quality of disclosure of such crimes compared to last year. This year, 1,300 people have been notified of the suspicion. Last year, for the same period, 1,100 people were given suspicion.
Do you detain groups that trade weapons?
— This year, more than 180 cases have been opened on the facts of arms trafficking, in which organized criminal groups are involved, 150 of them have already been reported on suspicion. For example, we detained in the city of Dnipro and announced suspicions to four people who were engaged in the processing of starting pistols for combat. And in the Kiev region, a group was documented that distributed gunpowder. They stole almost 4 tons of gunpowder from one of the enterprises and distributed it via the Internet in Ukraine, sending it in particular by postal items.
— Do you cooperate in this direction with foreign colleagues?
— Undoubtedly. Last year we received information about a group that sent automatic weapons to Ukraine from Turkey, and carried out a successful implementation.
- Since July 1 of last year, the Institute of Criminal Offenses came into force. What part of the crimes (in percentage ratio) passed into this category?
— Let's first remind your readers what a criminal offense is. It has really been a year since the Institute of Inquiry started, but not all people know it.
If we talk about public danger, then a criminal offense is inherently less serious than a crime, but more dangerous than an administrative offense. But the concept of public danger is different for each person. For one person, the theft of a bicycle “Ukraine” is more painful than for another, a stolen Range Rover, for which insurance will be paid.
What has changed in the work of the police?
— We prepared for the implementation of the law in advance. Due to the internal redistribution, 4 thousand positions of informants were introduced. Analyzed information on all investigators who investigated crimes of minor gravity at the time of the adoption of the law, and transferred them all to the inquiry. In addition, another 3 thousand positions authorized to carry out inquiries were introduced. These can be both operational officers and district police officers, whom the head of the unit, analyzing the criminogenic situation in his region, appoints by his order. The law allows this to be done.
Of course, there are difficulties, not always prosecutors perceive district officers in this role. But the procedure for investigating criminal offenses is greatly simplified, and in cases where a person pleads guilty, the proceedings are immediately sent to court. The list of procedural actions that can be carried out before entering information in the ERDR (survey, expert conclusions and his explanation) has been increased, and there is no need to conduct an examination, which is a prerequisite in the investigation of crimes.
In five months of this year, 21,000 criminal offenses were registered. This is 40% of the total number of criminal offenses when compared with crimes. In Sumy, Khmelnytsky and Kherson regions, the number of registered offenses is half. This suggests that fewer crimes are committed in these areas than in others.
21,000 indictments were sent to the court, 19,700 people received suspicion, 1,100 people were declared wanted.
— You said that in order to complete the investigation, it is enough for a person to admit guilt. What to do if she refuses to testify in court? So it happens?
“It happens that prosecutors, we have to be frank, are somewhat skeptical of such investigations, which are based on confessions. Because they then have to support the charges in court.
But in the materials there are not only human representations. There are testimonies of witnesses, other points of the evidence base.
— Are there any difficulties in the work related to misconduct?
— Of course. Despite the fact that they are not difficult to investigate, now, on average, there are 60 criminal proceedings for misdemeanors per investigator. But I repeat, we have relieved investigators, they are able to pay more attention to the investigation of serious and especially serious crimes. This is also one of the reasons why we have been able to improve the quality of documentation of organised crime groups and the detection and investigation of serious and particularly serious crimes.
As for the legislative settlement of misdemeanors, for example, the Criminal Procedure Code does not provide that the investigator can conduct a search, arrest property. It is not among the subjects that can initiate it. There are also problems with cooperation during the investigation regarding the involvement of lawyers from secondary legal assistance centers. There is also no inquisitor in the law on free legal aid.
We have prepared all necessary amendments to the legislation and sent for consideration by the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada.
— Last autumn, the head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the city. Kyiv Andriy Kryshchenko said that the efforts of the police in the fight against car hijackers led to a critical situation for criminals — and they directly offered him a bribe for “crushing” auto thieves. The amount is considerable - $350 thousand. How did the investigation end?
— This procedure is already at the end and will be sent to court this month. The persons who committed this crime are in custody.
— What is the situation with car theft in Ukraine?
— In 2020, there were 5,200 criminal offenses, of which 2,400 were sent to court. This year, 1,185 such criminal proceedings have been registered, of which 779 are already in court.
Which cities are the leaders behind these crimes?
— These are traditionally megacities: Kiev, Odessa, Kharkiv and Dnipro. The most popular brands among car thieves are Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai, Mazda, Honda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
We have also begun to identify more organized groups that systematically commit such crimes. Especially those who tried to bribe our colleagues.
Currently, 35 such groups have been detained. For example, in May, the investigators of the General Prosecutor's Office exposed a persistent criminal group that engaged in auto theft in Kharkiv, Poltava, and Cherkasy regions. The group acted rather brazenly, trying to intimidate law enforcement officers. One of the policemen burned the car so that he did not interfere with their activities. This was accompanied by threats to his phone. Three members of this group have been reported on suspicion and are currently in custody. By the way, two of them are former law enforcement officers.
— Speaking about the case of the death of an employee of the US Embassy in Kyiv, the head of the National Police said that an investigation is being carried out with an additional mark - an accident and that her body was sent to the United States for examination. Are there already results?
— On the fact of the death of an embassy employee, criminal proceedings were opened and a forensic medical examination was appointed, which was entrusted to an expert institution in the city. Kyiv. But at the request of the US Embassy in Ukraine, it was decided that the autopsy with the involvement of our experts will take place abroad.
We got the conclusion and completed its translation. It is unanimous that colleagues from the United States that our experts say about the train injury. That is, she was hit by a train.
— And how did it happen?
— She was found in one of the Kiev forest parks, near the railway tracks. She usually ran and ran over this place. Apparently, I was wearing headphones and did not hear the train coming.
— The train is hard not to hear even in headphones. Is this an end to the investigation?
— No. Additional examinations will be assigned. In particular, according to the tracology and mechanism of this railway injury. That is, it is necessary to find out whether the train was capable of emergency braking.
We also received the conclusion of a forensic examination of materials of substances and products. On the clothes, experts found traces of paint from the train.
— In early May, a suspect in an attempt on a soldier was found dead in Ochakov. Judging by the photos published by the police, a note “Everyone deserves it” was also found at the scene of the incident. Have you established the cause of death and the suspect?
— It is established that one soldier tried to kill another using a firearm, because of unrequited love for the girl. Realizing what he had done, he fled from the military unit, and then he was found dead nearby. The nature of the injuries, according to experts, indicates suicide. Forensic examination is now appointed.
- In the United States, a former policeman - 74-year-old Joseph DeAngelo, was sentenced to life in prison. He is called the “Golden State Killer” for a series of murders and rapes in the 70s and 80s of the last century. They searched for Deangelo for 40 years and found with the help of a DNA profile. Deputies propose to create a database of DNA of Ukrainians, but this bill is quite controversial and has caused a lot of criticism. Is he needed as a police officer? Do we have examples of solving resonant crimes using DNA?
— DNA-profiling is one of the key to obtaining an evidence base. If it matches the DNA of the person who committed the crime, it is direct evidence. First of all, murders and rapes. We have enough examples where crimes have been uncovered, in particular, thanks to molecular genetic examinations that have been carried out on the recovered DNA traces. In particular, the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in the Kherson region, where DNA was found on a rope with which the rapist twisted a bag containing the child's body. In addition, blood and semen were found on her clothes and the clothes of the suspect.
Perhaps you remember another case that was in Kirovograd region, where the body of a 16-year-old girl was found in the field? DNA was also found there, which helped in the search for her killer, who was then extradited from Poland.
There are also examples of auto theft. In particular, situations when the clothes of the criminal were found in the cars.
In the investigation of an accident, the DNA profile is also an auxiliary factor, because quite often criminals use such a technique as changing the driver.
Also as an example, when a whole series of crimes were revealed, we can cite the investigation of the murder of Amina Okueva and the assassination of Adam Osmayev. Several other murders were committed by the same group that committed these crimes. Both on the machine and on other items that were removed during the scene inspections, we detected DNA profiles of individuals. This was the basis for suspicion. Now this case is sent to court.
Is it important to create such a base?
— Yes, the creation of a DNA database will significantly help law enforcement agencies in solving crimes. For example, during the investigation of a murder in the Kherson region, which I was talking about, we first found genetic materials and established a circle of 6 people who, according to their characteristics, could commit a similar crime. Then a DNA profile was selected from each and compared. If we have such a base, it will speed up the investigation and save money on the procedure, which is quite costly.
I know that the majority of deputies speak out against the state registration of genomic information, saying that it is a violation of constitutional rights. I believe that persons who have not committed a crime do not need to worry about the adoption of such a law.
Tetiana Bodnia, “Censor.net”
Photo: Natalia Sharomova, “Censor.net”
