The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union reports one cheering victory for an honest police officer who turned to them, after he was fired for the second time. 26-year-old Serhiy Chubun won his first case in 2010 and returned to the Shevchenkivsky Police Station in Kyiv. One can assume that the management was not overly pleased at his success in court. He was again dismissed, though this time the story is worth telling in detail.

The Head of the Kyiv Police received "a letter from the SBU [Security Service] which presented Mr Chubun as an out-an-out drug addict selling drugs.

The letter states that “according to our information S. Chubun, together with unidentified individuals, organized the growing, production, transportation and sale of narcotic substances: amphetamine and marihuana in huge quantities in the Kyiv region. “

He was also accused of having strong ties with people from the criminal world and selling them some secret information.

On the basis of this letter Serhiy was sent for tests which supposedly found traces of marihuana in his organism.  He insisted, however, on being tested in an independent laboratory which found no trace of any drugs. Despite this, the committee of police officers carrying out the investigation recommended that Serhiy Chubun be dismissed for taking drugs and having contact with people who illegally sell drugs.  All of this solely on the basis of the SBU letter, no proof.

Serhiy Chubun was again dismissed.  However this time he turned to the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.  A civil suit was lodged which Serhiy again won. No evidence of the accusations put forward by the SBU was found.

Serhiy when asked why the management is so against him replies that he does everything in accordance with the law and instructions and tries to avoid obeying orders in breach of legislation.  Maybe that is what annoys them. 

He says he is ready for the fight if he is dismissed again.

Vadim Pyvovarov, Executive Director of the Association of Ukrainian Human Rights Monitors on Law Enforcement, around 30 police officers turn to them each year over infringements of their rights.