The prosecutor’s office opened a criminal investigation into the blocking of the border by protesters

Uzhgorod local and Tyachiv local prosecutors have launched criminal proceeding and are carrying procedural control in the criminal proceeding over blocking of transport communications by protesters on the border with Hungary and Romania (Part 1 of Art. 279 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), the press service of the Prosecutor’s Office in Transcarpathian region informed. It refers to blocking of roads near the Ukraine-Slovakia and Ukraine-Romania border by owners of vehicles with foreign registration by means of placing obstacles, which affected normal operation of transport – punishable by a fine of fifty to one hundred tax-free minimum incomes, or correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest for up to six months or imprisonment for up to three years.   Currently, law enforcement officers have found out that the participants of the protest organized by the NGO "Peresichka", by stopping their cars, blocked the traffic on Sobranetska street leading to the checkpoint "Uzhgorod" in both directions. The same actions, but at the checkpoint "Solotvtno", were committed by protesters in Tyachiv district, demanding the adoption of the law on the extension of the period of vehicles with foreign registration stay in Ukraine. As a result of those actions, a significant conjestion formed in the blocked stretch of the access road to the border with Romania at the checkpoint "Solotvyno". Currently, the inspection of the scene with photo and video recording has been completed. The cars, that blocked the roads, were recorded, now their owners are being identified. Also, the victims of the blocking of the state border at the checkpoints "Uzhgorod" and "Solotvyno" and the damage caused are being established. The team of prosecutors for procedural control over the pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceeding has been appointed. Officers of the local police department ensured protection of public order at the scene. The investigation of the said criminal proceeding is under the control of the Prosecutor’s office in Transcarpathian region.