You're reading: Large-scale raids under way at government agencies in Zakarpattia

Law enforcement officers have been conducting large-scale raids in offices of government agencies and houses of a number of people in Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia) region, said local human rights activist Roman Kelemen.

“Numerous searches are being conducted at different people in Uzhhorod and Mukachevo, the police have been put into an enhanced security regime. In Khust, they have even besieged Khust City Council’s building and let everyone into the building only with ID cards (people say someone has been caught red-handed while taking a bribe). The raids are being held even at the residences of [Viktor] Baloha’s brothers and his friends. The loss of a parliamentary immunity has immediately revealed itself,” Kelemen said on Facebook on Sept. 25.

Kelemen says it is not yet known exactly what is the cause behind, “but rumor has it” that searches are being carried out as part of an investigation into an attempt on the life of the head of the regional economy protection department, Andriy Ivankiv, who was shot several times with automatic weapons.

“A SWAT team has arrived in Zakarpattia by plane and in a helicopter. 600 SWAT members are involved in the operation,” Kelemen said.

The National Police of Ukraine confirmed in a comment to Interfax-Ukraine the fact of conducting searches in Zakarpattia region, but have not yet reported the details.