Ombudsman Reveals Materials on Illegal Detention, Unsanitary Conditions, and Ignored Health Issues at Uzhhorod RTC and SP

On Saturday, October 21, 2023, Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, publicly released materials from his monitoring visit to the Uzhhorod District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (RTC and SP). The visit uncovered serious human rights violations that have raised alarm and concern among the public and human rights advocates.

Lubinets pointed out that his visit confirmed the existence of a mobilization system in Ukraine that has fostered a culture of impunity, transforming the premises of the RTC and SP into de facto places of detention without any legal grounds. This situation has raised significant questions regarding the adherence to the rights of citizens who find themselves in these institutions.

According to the Ombudsman, despite facing obstacles from officials, he was able to document egregious violations. Lubinets reported that some individuals had been held at the Uzhhorod RTC and SP for extended periods, specifically 21, 24, 30, and even 50 days. In a video released, a veteran displayed his combatant identification, yet even this status did not warrant his release.

The Ombudsman also emphasized that under the prevailing conditions in these institutions, individuals are stripped of basic rights. In some instances, documents and phones were confiscated without proper documentation, depriving them of the means to defend their rights. The living conditions at the Uzhhorod RTC and SP are degrading to human dignity: 40-60 individuals are provided with only three cups and eight metal plates, forcing them to eat in turns from a single dish without proper sanitation. Furthermore, there is no evidence of organized meals, and the facilities are in a state of complete unsanitary conditions: there is only one toilet and one shower for such a large number of people, and no bed linens are provided.

Lubinets also drew attention to the neglect of medical needs for those in these facilities. He cited the example of a man with a visible physical disability who had requested help for several days but was only hospitalized after the intervention of an Ombudsman representative, by which time his condition had become life-threatening. This highlights serious issues within the medical care system in such institutions, which could lead to tragic outcomes, including sudden deaths.

The Ombudsman stressed that if radical changes are not made to the mobilization processes in the near future, and if employees of the RTC and SP do not face strict legal accountability for their illegal actions, the situation will only worsen. He noted that in such a case, conflicts between citizens and employees of the RTC and SP would continue, as the country's defense capabilities cannot be built on gross violations of the Constitution.

Following his visit, the Ombudsman submitted a statement regarding criminal offenses as defined by Articles 146, 127, 344, and 426-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This indicates the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for action to protect human rights in Ukraine.