In Volhynia, a priest demanded $10,000 for granting a status and deferment from military service, but was exposed by law enforcement. The incident was reported by the Main Directorate of the National Police in Volyn region.
Investigators established that a 45-year-old rector of a church in the Volodymyr district of the Volyn region offered the conscript, for a bribe of $10,000, to obtain the status of a clergyman, which supposedly guaranteed a 'spiritual' deferment from service and reservation. He also promised to influence the local RTC and SP officials to implement the scheme.
Law enforcement documented the criminal activity and on September 17, announced suspicion under part 3 of article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of influence). The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment from 3 to 8 years and confiscation of property.
The court chose the preventive measure for the priest – night house arrest. The investigation was conducted by the investigators of the National Police under the support of the SBI in Lviv and under the supervision of the specialized prosecutor's office in the defense sphere of the Western region. Law enforcement emphasizes that such schemes not only violate the law but also harm the country's defense capability.
Earlier we wrote, how much on average a priest earns in Ukraine.