Law enforcement officers in the Lviv region have uncovered an individual who held a man in labour slavery for over 20 years. This was made possible due to the vulnerable condition of the victim, who lacked a permanent place of residence and stable income. The perpetrator recruited him for unpaid physical labour.
The victim lived in inappropriate conditions, without basic domestic conveniences, and was completely dependent both materially and psychologically on the perpetrator. It was established that he lived in an outbuilding not suited for habitation, and in the summer, he was relocated outside the populated area to perform farm work, where he lived in a metal container with unsanitary conditions.
To maintain control, the perpetrator used physical and psychological violence. If the work was unsatisfactory, the victim was subjected to physical pressure. According to the investigation, the man did not receive any medical assistance throughout the years of exploitation, despite having chronic illnesses. The victim is now under medical supervision.
The person involved in the case has been informed of the suspicion under part 2 of article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (human trafficking), which provides for a punishment of imprisonment for a term of five to twelve years, with or without confiscation of property. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
Source: MVS LVIV