The key facts
- NABU suspects SBU and National Police officers of aiding a group engaged in kidnappings and torture
- According to the investigation, the criminals learned of victims' reports almost immediately and had access to databases and cameras
- One of the transfers to the law enforcement officers allegedly amounted to $1.3 million in cryptocurrency
Law enforcement officers under suspicion
Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have been suspected of cooperating with a criminal group known by the name of its leader — 'Meksikanets' ('The Mexican'). According to the investigation, members of the group kidnapped and tortured people both in Ukraine and abroad. This is reported by UNIAN, citing materials from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU); details of the investigation are covered by Life.ru.
What the law enforcement officers are charged with
According to the investigation, Ukrainian law enforcement officers helped the criminals evade responsibility and passed them official information. Group members learned about victims' reports to the police almost immediately after the complaints were filed, which allowed them to continue pursuing the victims. In addition, the suspects allegedly received information from law enforcement databases, access to surveillance cameras and search materials — this made it possible to track the movements of people of interest to them in real time.
Suspects and scale
According to UNIAN, access to surveillance cameras was provided by an employee of the SBU's Department for the Protection of National Statehood. The deputy head of the criminal investigation department of Kyiv Region, known by the nickname Konsultant ('The Consultant'), is said to have helped obstruct the investigation, while patronage of the group is attributed to an SBU major general nicknamed Akim, who allegedly called its members 'brothers'. For their assistance, the law enforcement officers allegedly received large rewards: one of the transfers amounted to $1.3 million in cryptocurrency.
Attacks abroad and searches of SBU leadership
The investigation links attacks not only in Ukraine but also in other European countries, in particular in Vienna, to the group. It is claimed that the criminals even managed to obtain photographs from a meeting of European law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating their activities. NABU also released a video in which, allegedly, group members beat a man with hammers; on the audio track, the men discuss the severity of the injuries inflicted and claim that the most brutal episodes were left off camera.
Searches of high-ranking SBU officials
The investigation was accompanied by searches of the special service's leadership. NABU detectives came with a search warrant to the head of the SBU's Main Directorate for Internal Security, Colonel Anton Kravchuk. On the same day, according to Ukrainian media, the bureau encountered resistance when attempting to carry out investigative actions at the home of SBU General Serhiy Duka: he reportedly threatened the detectives with weapons and refused to allow them to the search site. Later, according to Life.ru, NABU detained General Duka in connection with this case.
