To Klychko’s Deputy Prokopiv was notified of suspicion: the official called the case "absurd"

To Klychko’s Deputy Prokopiv was notified of suspicion: the official called the case "absurd"

Prokopiv is suspected of organizing schemes for the illegal transportation of draft dodgers to Europe.

Kyiv City Council Deputy Volodymyr Prokopiv called the new suspicion handed to him absurd and also spoke of planned actions for the cleansing of local governance in the capital.

The relevant statement appeared on his Facebook page.

"In the first days of the full-scale invasion, in February 2022, someone had to take responsibility for the functioning of the capital. And I took that responsibility. Three years have passed. Kyiv has withstood and is living. Today, I received a notice of suspicion for an absurd accusation of illegally transporting military conscripts abroad. Have no doubt that the case is purely political, as part of the persecution of the opposition and the cleansing of local governance in the capital," Prokopiv notes.

"Since April 2022, the then-head of the Kyiv City Military Administration endowed me with powers to ensure and provide food security, essential goods, humanitarian aid, and medicines. The order of the Kyiv City Civil-Military Administration regulated access to the ’Shlyakh’ system and imposed the duty to enter data into the electronic database on me. I worked 24/7 directly with volunteer organizations, medical institutions, military units, and Territorial Defence Forces. As a result, we imported thousands of tons of humanitarian aid, hundreds of vehicles for the needs of the Armed Forces, and tens of tons of medicines. And now I am accused of facilitating the illegal crossing of state borders by conscripted men to evade military draft. It concerns two truck drivers who did not return at some point," Volodymyr Prokopiv reported.

"I took responsibility because it was needed. And yes, I was the only one in the Kyiv City Military Administration who took such responsibility, and now they want to prosecute me because this activity was carried out not according to procedure. We just did everything to ensure the units of the Armed Forces and the functioning of the city. I would do it the same way if I had to," writes the Kyiv City Council deputy.

"Why is this happening now? Besides the systematic persecution of ’European Solidarity,’ there is also an attempt to further cleanse local governance in Kyiv and take control of the Kyiv City Council by electing a secretary aligned with the President’s Office, who is to counteract the elected mayor, Klychko. And you say no preparation for elections is happening… For some, it’s a struggle for Ukraine; for others, it’s for power in Ukraine, absolute, disregarding any methods," Prokopiv notes.

"Additionally, I am threatened with more criminal cases soon, but this is the price of my principled political stance. We will endure," Prokopiv stresses.