Serhiy Huly, a 40-year-old man from Zolotonosha, was found dead in the Cherkasy region; he had gone missing in August following a visit to the Zvenyhorod Territorial Recruitment Centre. According to eyewitnesses, the man suffered an epileptic fit; however, the military medical commission deemed him fit for service. Subsequently, the military unit refused to accept him, after which contact with Serhiy was lost. His body was found 120 kilometres from his home, and a forensic medical examination failed to establish the cause of death. On 7 November, Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada’s Human Rights Commissioner, provided details of the circumstances surrounding the case.
- Serhiy Huly, aged 40, who had gone missing after the TCC, was found dead in the Cherkasy region.
- Despite reports of an epileptic fit, the Medical Examination Board deemed the man fit for service.
- The military unit refused to accept him, and Serhiy subsequently went missing.
- The man’s body was found 120 kilometres from his home.
- Lubinec is calling for an investigation, as the post-mortem examination failed to establish the cause of death.
The man was deemed fit for service despite reports of an epileptic fit
According to the information Lubynets, in August, TCC staff delivered Sergey from Zolotonosha to Zvenyhorodka, situated approximately 140 kilometres from his home. Whilst there, according to eyewitness accounts, the man suffered an epileptic fit.
Despite this, Serhiy passed military medical board, which deemed him fit for military service. He was referred to an assault brigade; however, during the subsequent selection process, the military unit found that he did not meet the medical requirements and refused to accept him.
According to statements from the Cherkasy Regional TCC, which were previously received by the local publication «18000», Serhiy returned to the Zvenyhorod TCC and left it on 13 August. Representatives of the centre claim that they recorded this in the duty log and did not subject him to any physical or psychological pressure.
Serhiy’s family had been searching for him for almost two months
The man’s wife, Oksana, had previously told journalists that on 10 August her husband had been taken to the TCC following a road accident. According to her, A car belonging to staff from the recruitment centre knocked Sergei off his bicycle.
The woman last spoke to her husband on 12 August. She was later told that Serhiy had been released, but he did not return home. On 14 August, Oksana reported him missing to the police.
The search went on for nearly two months. Eventually The man’s body was found 120 kilometres from his home. On 6 November, Serhiy was buried.
Following the disappearance, the police have opened criminal proceedings under Part 1 Article 115 Under the Criminal Code of Ukraine — murder. However, the forensic medical examination carried out did not establish the cause of death. The mere fact that proceedings have been initiated under this section does not mean that the violent nature of the death has already been proven.
Lubinec calls for an investigation into the actions of the TCC and the military unit
The Ombudsman questioned the circumstances surrounding the military medical examination and the decision to send the man far from home. He drew particular attention to reports that, following the military unit’s refusal, Serhiy found himself without a mobile phone or any money in the middle of the night.
The Ombudsman’s Office has already sent enquiries to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Military Law Enforcement Service. Following confirmation of the man’s death, further enquiries were sent to the Cherkasy Regional TCC and the regional police.
Lubinec is insisting on establishing the full details of Serhiy’s movements following his stay at the TCC, reviewing the decisions of the military medical commission and investigating the actions of all officials involved.
The investigation must now establish the circumstances under which the man found himself dozens of kilometres from home, what caused his death, and whether any breaches were committed by those responsible.
