Border guards at the Rava-Ruska checkpoint prevented an attempt to cross the border illegally by a couple from the Sumy region. It was discovered that a 22-year-old man entered a sham marriage with a 23-year-old woman with a second-degree disability to facilitate his departure to Turkey.
Initially, the “couple” claimed they were visiting the “groom’s” mother. However, the woman, realizing her actions could lead to criminal charges, confessed to the arrangement. She disclosed that the marriage was agreed upon in exchange for $3,000-$4,000 and a free vacation in Turkey.
Further investigation revealed that the woman’s new husband was a close friend of her former spouse. To avoid suspicion, the “newlyweds” planned to cross the border two months after registering their marriage.
Operatives from the 7th Border Guard Unit reported the case to the police, citing potential criminal activity under the article for illegal transportation of individuals across Ukraine’s state border.