TCC employees in balaclavas forcibly detain man in Kamianske — ombudsman Lubinets initiates investigation

A scandal has erupted in Kamianske (Dnipropetrovsk region) after video footage of the forced detention of a man by TCC and SP employees spread on social media.

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets responded to the incident by initiating official investigations. This was reported by “Vidomo” citing the ombudsman’s official statement.

The published video shows individuals in military uniforms forcibly detaining a man in broad daylight and pushing him into a service vehicle. Women who witnessed the incident attempted to interfere with the detention — one of them was allegedly subjected to tear gas. Some of those involved in the incident were wearing balaclavas, and the process took place without any visible participation of police officers.

Dmytro Lubinets strongly condemned such methods of carrying out mobilization activities and stated that concealing identities is a direct violation of citizens’ rights.

“The use of balaclavas during mobilization activities is unacceptable. Every person must clearly understand who exactly is checking their documents, stopping them, or applying coercive measures. If faces are concealed, it becomes much more difficult to identify the person who may have exceeded their authority or violated human rights,” the ombudsman stressed.

Lubinets also stated the need for transparency in carrying out mobilization activities.

“The public demand today is clear — it is transparency in all processes relating to fundamental human rights. And the so-called ‘busification’ must be eliminated, as it has no place in a law-governed state,” he added.

In connection with the incident, Lubinets urgently instructed his representative in Dnipropetrovsk region, Oleksiy Urlatkin, to establish all the circumstances of the incident. Official letters were simultaneously sent to two agencies: to the Main Directorate of the Military Law Enforcement Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine — demanding that an official investigation be conducted into the possible abuse of power or authority by military officials; and to the Dnipropetrovsk Regional TCC and SP — demanding comprehensive information on the legality of using balaclavas, applying physical force and special means, as well as the legal grounds for detaining a civilian without police involvement.

The results of the investigations and the official position of the relevant bodies will be published upon completion of the inquiry. At the time of publication, the Dnipropetrovsk Regional TCC and SP had not officially commented on the incident.

Previously, the Dnipropetrovsk Regional TCC commented on the scandalous “mobilization” of a single father in Kryvyi Rih. In addition, law enforcement officers in Dnipro are conducting an investigation into information about a conflict in the city’s Industrialnyi district, footage of which also spread on social media: the videos show a group of women attempting to interfere with unidentified individuals during what appeared to be mobilization activities against a man.