Drapaty removes head of Zakarpattia TCC following human rights violation allegations

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapaty has removed Andriy Savchuk, the head of the Zakarpattia Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support, from his post.

The news was reported on social media by ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

According to Lubinets, his representatives had repeatedly documented human rights violations and corrupt practices in the work of the Zakarpattia TCC head. The ombudsman stressed that the discovered facts were made public and official demands to cease the violations were sent to the TCC.

“We spoke about this publicly, sent official responses, and demanded that the violations be stopped. But instead of fixing the problem, they chose to fight those who pointed it out. First came attempts to silence the discovered facts. When that didn’t work — information pressure and even intentions to fabricate criminal proceedings against my employees who had uncovered these violations,” — Lubinets stated.

The ombudsman attributed the situation to years of absent “proper oversight” and failure to respond to systemic problems, which, in his words, fostered a sense of impunity among TCC staff. Lubinets also criticized the “inaction of the former leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which should have responded to problems in the TCC and SP system much earlier.”

Shortly before Savchuk’s removal, Lubinets reported that a criminal case was being fabricated in Zakarpattia against his representative Andriy Kryuchkov, who, according to the ombudsman, “uncovered numerous violations by employees of the territorial recruitment centers.”

The outlet had previously reported that criminal cases were being opened against TCC employees for kidnapping, threats, and extortion. However, those implicated in these cases often continue to show up for work and collect their salaries.