‘I was injured at work while studying the materials of criminal proceedings”: the head of the Khmelnytsky Regional Prosecutor’s Office talks about his disability and discrimination by prosecutors
Mass disability among prosecutors caused a significant public outcry, causing a discussion about the legality and ethics of such a phenomenon. Every news related to the disability of prosecutor’s office workers attracts public attention and raises suspicions about possible abuse and use of disability as a means of avoiding certain duties or inspections. On the one hand, prosecutor’s office employees have the legal right to register disability due to health conditions, and on the other hand, the question arises in society whether all such cases are justified, or whether some of them may be the result of manipulations. This causes a wave of controversies and discussions related to how to maintain a balance between the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and the observance of ethical standards in the law enforcement system.
Oleksiy Oliynyk, head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Prosecutor’s Office denied information that most of his subordinates have registered for disability.
“In social networks, information about the disability of “almost all” prosecutors of the Khmelnytskyi regional prosecutor’s office has become public. I want to comment on the information, as it is not entirely true. The number of the regional prosecutor’s office is 225 prosecutors. And only 48 have disabilities, so it can be argued that the entire prosecutor’s office consists of persons with disabilities is not correct. Moreover, the disability of most workers was not acquired in recent years.” – Oliynyk said on Facebook.
Oleksiy Oliynyk himself also has a disability, but he explained that he got it at his workplace while studying the materials of criminal proceedings:
“Personally, I have health problems. In 2005, I was injured at the workplace while studying the materials of criminal proceedings. I received the group in 2017, long before my appointment to the position. The illness does not prevent the performance of official duties. The issue of having a group was considered under time of attestation by the commission with the participation of representatives of the public and international organizations.
Moreover, the issue of prosecutors’ disability was raised by People’s Deputy H.M. Tretyakov. still in 2020. The initiator was a local public activist. This issue was the subject of research within the framework of criminal proceedings, which was investigated by the central law enforcement agencies of the state.
The expression “covering the corruption scheme of the head of MSEK” certainly sounds powerful, but there is nothing confirmed in the publication which and most of the author’s articles criticize the authorities. This can be said about everyone who received a group and holds a position.”
Oleksiy Oliynyk believes that recent events and accusations are discrimination against prosecutors because of their professional status.
“I understand, I am a public person and I have to take the public’s evaluations of myself and my family as a matter of course, but I believe that this should not border on violation of rights and distortion of information. The current legislation does not establish restrictions on the work of persons with disabilities in the prosecutor’s office .
During the attestation, the disability of the prosecutors was considered by the relevant commissions. Checks have been initiated repeatedly, and every time another blogger’s publication about prosecutors gains relevance, as if they are limited in the rights of ordinary citizens. It looks like discrimination based on the profession of a prosecutor. Regular inspections are scheduled.” – said Oliynyk.
