The lawmaker joined the statement in support of Vitaliy Shabunin

Stop using the justice system for political reprisals: statement by civil society organizations on the case of Vitaliy Shabunin

To the President of Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

To the Prosecutor General of Ukraine 

To Ruslan Kravchenko

To the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation

Alexey Sukhachev

STATEMENT

July 11, 2025, at the co-founder of the public organization “Anti-Corruption Action Center” Vitaliy Shabunin passed searches. 

At the time of the investigation, Shabunin was a sergeant serving in the 43rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ASU). According to his lawyer Olena Shcherban, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) conducted searches at several addresses: at his place of registration in Kyiv, where Vitaliy's family and young children currently live, and at his place of service in the Chuguiv district of the Kharkiv region. The searches were preceded by a long and systematic discrediting campaign against Shabunin through anonymous Telegram channels. 

By data According to the Anti-Corruption Center, the investigative actions were carried out with numerous violations by the State Bureau of Investigation, which were recorded by lawyers who arrived at the scene after the fact: the absence of court orders, the organization of searches in such a way that lawyers were unable to arrive on time and take measures to protect their rights, the absence of video recording of the process of seizing equipment and objects, which could be used in the future for further discrediting, the seizure of objects that are not related to the essence of the criminal proceedings, etc. Vitaliy Shabunin, as well as his relatives, had their mobile phones taken away and even children's tablets confiscated. 

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) announced suspicion against Shabunin for “evasion of military service” and “fraud” (under Part 4 of Article 409 and Part 2 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code). 

Recall that Vitaliy Shabunin voluntarily mobilized to the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the first days of the full-scale war, was in various regions of Ukraine at the location of the unit's deployment, where, in accordance with the military orders of the leadership, he performed military service. The SBI's accusations of his alleged evasion of service are based on the period when Shabunin was on a business trip to the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) in accordance with the official order of the command. Cases of military personnel being sent to government bodies and institutions are not unique. During his business trip to the NACP, Shabunin received standard monetary support as a military personnel in accordance with current legislation — without any “combat” payments. 

The legislation did not provide for any special actions by Shabunin in the event of a business trip: his task was to go on a business trip, following the order. The issue of receiving or not receiving payments of a serviceman does not depend on his will and it is not he who calculates them. These issues are regulated by the state, and if it believes that an unjustified payment has been made, then there is an institution of civil law under which a claim for the return of funds can be made.

So, Vitaliy Shabunin is suspected of committing actions committed by state bodies, because a serviceman does not decide how much he should be paid and by whom, he is a subordinate person who, during his service, is in the "hands" of the state and dependent on it.

In the official press releases The SBI also makes a manipulative reference to the use of a volunteer car. However, data The Anti-Corruption Center did not suspect this claim, as this practice is legal and widely used in the Defense Forces. Moreover, private donors have previously gave public clarification that the purchase was made with CEO Club funds, and the car was transferred specifically for the needs of serviceman Shabunin. Since the benefactors who financed the purchase of the car do not believe that their rights have been violated and have not applied to any law enforcement agencies for the restoration of their rights, the latter have no legal grounds to accuse the serviceman of using a car that is not owned by a state body or military unit. 

So, The actions of the pre-trial investigation bodies can be regarded either as complete incompetence of the officials and inadequacy of their position, or as a targeted attack aimed at putting pressure on Vitaliy Shabunin, who continued to criticize the work of state bodies during his military service.. 

This criminal prosecution bears the hallmarks of being politically motivated, constitutes an abuse of law, i.e. it is carried out in violation of Ukraine's obligations under Article 18 (limits of application of restrictions on rights) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in conjunction with Article 6 (right to a fair trial) and Article 10 (freedom of expression) of this Convention. 

This persecution is another episode in long history of attacks on Vitaliy Shabunin personally and on the “Anti-Corruption Center” headed by him”, which have been ongoing since 2016.

We, the undersigned representatives of human rights, anti-corruption organizations and other public associations, We appeal to the President of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General, and the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation with a demand to prevent the use of the justice system for political reprisals and persecution of critics of the government. 

We call:

• President of Ukraine – to express a public position on the inadmissibility of politically motivated persecution of public figures.
• Directors of the State Bureau of Investigation – in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 39 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, dismiss the investigators who conducted the pre-trial investigation of this proceeding and initiate disciplinary proceedings against them; in accordance with Clause 4 of Article 39 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, eliminate the violations of the requirements of the law committed by the investigators; take personal responsibility and in accordance with Clause 5 of Article 39 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, personally conduct a full pre-trial investigation, using the powers of an investigator.
• Prosecutor General – ensure impartial procedural guidance of the pre-trial investigation and conduct an internal investigation against investigators in the event of gross violations of criminal procedural legislation; in the absence of elements of a criminal offense – close the criminal proceedings against Vitaliy Shabunin.

Pressure on public activists is unacceptable in a democratic country like Ukraine.

1. ZMINA Human Rights Center
2. Institute of Mass Information
3. Anti-Corruption Center MEJHA
4. Anti-corruption headquarters
5. Public initiative “Ilka”
6. Center for Economic Strategy 
7. NGO "Human Rights Platform"
8. Kharkiv Anti-Corruption Center
9. Media Initiative for Human Rights
10. DEJURE Foundation
11. VGO "Institute of Political Education"
12. All-Ukrainian Association “Automaidan”
13. NGO "Women's Anti-Corruption Movement"
14. International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV)
15. Center for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM)
16. Ukrainian Independent Center for Political Studies
17. NGO “Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center” 
18. Center for Investigative Journalism "The Power of Truth"
19. Public Control Platform 
20. National Interest Protection Network (ANTS) 
21. Civic Network OPORA
22. Bihus.Info
23. The HONEST movement
24. Center for Socio-Economic Research – CASE Ukraine
25. NGO "MINZMIN"
26. Interdisciplinary Research and Educational Center for Combating Corruption (ACREC)
27. Human rights initiative "Lawmaker"
28. Transparency International Ukraine
29. NGO “Crimean Process”
30.  NGO “Zero Waste Lviv”
31. NGL.media
32. NGO “Ukrainian LGBT Military for Equal Rights”
33. NGO “Center for Reforms and Local Development”
34. NGO 'Social Capital'
35. NGO “Rivne Center “Social Partnership” (Initiative “For a Fair Tender”
36. IAC “Public Space”
37. NGO “Initiative Community” 
38. NGO “Coordination Center for Public Control”
39. Public Association “Human Rights House “Crimea”
40. Open Data Association
41. Non-profit organization "Ukrainian Legal Aid Foundation"
42. NGO "Center for Law Enforcement Research"
43. StateWatch Think Tank
44. NGO “Genealogical Community “Archisovist”
45. NGO “Volya Hromady”
46. NGO “Institute of Legislative Ideas”
47. Public holding company “GROUP OF INFLUENCE”
48. NGO “Center for Political and Legal Reforms”
49. Kremenchuk Anti-Corruption Center
50. NGO “ZORAKS”
51. NGO “Ecosphere”
52. NGO “Green Leaf”
53. NGO "RIPO Patriot"
54. NGO “Coalition of Cultural Activists”
55. International Renaissance Foundation
56. Public organization “BCD”
57. Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv
58. Lobby X recruiting platform
59. Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG)
60. NGO "Youth Organization "Interaction""
61. NGO "Code 21"
62. Detector Media
63. NGO “Cherkasy Information Agency “18000”
64. NGO “Horizon of Change”
65. The German Marshall Fund of the United States
66. Center for Liberation Movement Studies
67.  Association “Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine” 
68. NGO "Institutional Development Foundation"
69. NGO "People's Defense"
70. NGO “Together”
71. VGO "Boykiv Ethnological Society"
72. NGO “Icebreaker”
73. Crimean Human Rights Group
74. Charity Fund "Patients of Ukraine"
75. NGO "Center for Civic Representation "Life""
76. Coalition “Reanimation Package of Reforms”
77. Kryvyi Rih Investigation Center
78. Analytical Center “Prizma”
79. NGO “Social Synergy”
80. Association of Christian Lawyers of Ukraine
81. NGO "VeloVector"
82. FREERIGHTS
83. Public Organization “Civil Initiatives of Ukraine”
84. NGO “Association of Responsible Citizens”
85. NGO “Agency of Journalistic Investigations “Fourth Power””
86. NGO “Ukrainian Institute for Human Rights”
87. Foundation “Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives”
88. Intellectual discussions
89. NGO “Save Pikuy”
90. Media group “Shelter”
91. NGO “Against Corruption”
92. Committee of Voters of Ukraine
93. Center for Journalistic Investigations of Poltava Region “MediaDokaz”
94. BO “100% Life”
95. Ukraine-Hilfe Berlin e. V.
96. Open Platform/Alliance of Ukrainian Organisations Alliance of Ukrainian Organisations (Germany)
97. NGO “Office of Action”
98. NGO “Cultural Hub”