Safes have been being broken into in Vyshhorod for the third day in a row

“Following in the footsteps of the ‘diamond prosecutors’”—that is how representatives of the closed joint-stock company “VDM” describe the actions of the Investigative Department of the National Police in the Kyiv region. They explain that, as part of the criminal investigation opened against their company, the police are conducting urgent investigative actions to seize property. However, the property does not belong to the company but to individuals who rent safes from them.

SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX RENTERS: 

– “Now they want to seize all of this—it’s unclear where and it’s unclear why.”

– “They still haven’t shown me anything—no documents to legitimize this process.”

The investigator did not provide our film crew with any explanation regarding the details or purpose of the property seizure, and he refused to show us the order from the prosecutor’s office.

ALEXANDER TERPYLO, INVESTIGATOR WITH THE INVESTIGATIVE DEPARTMENT OF THE NATIONAL POLICE IN THE KYIV REGION: 

– “This is confidential to the investigation. Investigative actions are currently underway, all in accordance with applicable law.”

LAWYERS SAY:

– “They provided evidence that the safe deposit box renters have no connection to the criminal proceedings, and, according to the investigating judge’s ruling, the search of the company’s premises was to be conducted without the seizure of property.”

ANDRIY LEVKOVETS, ATTORNEY:

– “By abusing their authority, they are simply breaking the law. Some items have already been seized from the safe deposit boxes and inventoried, and they are now trying to seize the rest. We have real concerns that these items will, after all, be physically seized and taken away by the investigators. We do not know where they will end up afterward.”

The investigative proceedings are still ongoing. Lawyers, property owners, and company executives are trying to monitor the process but are expressing concern about possible provocations by the investigators.