Today at 13:50
Iryna Venediktova, Prosecutor General of Ukraine:
I’d like to clarify the information about the release of some prisoners from custody to participate in the defense of the state.
First – it is not a mass action, but a very balanced step.
Simply saying, the population should not worry about crime flooding the streets. And for those who are serving their sentences, hope for an “open day” too.
Each of the dismissed had significant combat experience in the Donbas zone in 2014-2015. All of them are ardent opponents of the “Russian world”, and one of them is the author of a well-known song by Ukrainian fans about the main aggressor Putin. All risks are individually assessed and control mechanisms are identified.
There are enough soldiers in the country – almost 100 000 citizens were mobilized in 2 days, half of them are territory defense reservists. However, defending Ukraine is not only a duty but also a right. And when there is a question about the preservation of statehood and the future of Ukraine, we believe that those who stumbled but want to help protect their native land, deserve this chance. In addition, we are convinced that the main task of the penitentiary system is not punishment, but correction.
At the same time, the Ukrainian army needs material support. We could not stand aside when the state was in danger. Prosecutors at all levels throughout the country decide to lift arrests and transfer equipment and weapons, as well as fuel seized during the investigation of criminal proceedings, to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard. More than 10,000 tons of fuel, armored vehicles, and weapons have already been delivered.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office continues to do everything possible to bring to justice every invader and the leadership of the aggressor state Russian Federation. Not a single shot of the occupier will be left without the reaction of law enforcement officers.
