In the Bucha Territorial Recruitment Center, a female lawyer was beaten, — Kyiv Region Bar Council

In the Bucha Territorial Recruitment Center, a female lawyer was beaten, — Kyiv Region Bar Council

After the incident, the woman was hospitalized, and her condition worsened. Neither the police nor the Territorial Recruitment Center have commented on the event at this time.

In the premises of the Bucha Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, force was used against lawyer Mariya Naselenko. She has a 3rd-degree disability due to a condition acquired during her military service, is a volunteer, and the mother of a 19-year-old volunteer, according to the Kyiv Region Bar Association.

The incident happened on January 4 during the provision of legal assistance to one of the conscripts. His relatives claimed that the man was being held illegally, had his phone taken, was not allowed to leave the premises, and was supposedly forced to sign an unfavorable contract.

Oleh Chaykin, who identified himself as the head of the administrative department of the Bucha Recruitment Center, denied the lawyer access to her client. He violently twisted Mariya Naselenko’s arms, pushed her against the wall, and struck her back and head against the wall.

The woman was holding a phone with documents containing attorney-client privilege. The major took her phone, forced her to provide the access password, and reviewed all the information without permission. Other military personnel pretended to pass by but "accidentally" pushed her, allowing the situation to appear as group harassment.

"I was beaten, pushed, and I felt like a soccer ball being passed between the soldiers," the lawyer described.

Following the incident, the woman was given first aid and hospitalized. She had previously undergone three spinal surgeries, and now doctors have diagnosed a deterioration in her condition that may require another surgical intervention.

According to the head of the Kyiv Region Bar Association, Petro Boyko, the actions of the major, a representative of the Recruitment Center, show signs of several criminal offenses, including:

• obstructing the work of a lawyer (Art. 397 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) by denying access to the client, violent actions, and violating attorney-client privilege;
• intentional infliction of blows and beatings (Art. 126 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) for using physical violence against the lawyer;
• abuse of authority (Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) due to exceeding official powers.