Photo: Getty images
In Kyiv, police exposed and neutralised a network of pharmacies involved in the illegal import and sale of Russian medicines. This was reported by the Communication Department of the National Police of Ukraine on Telegram.
“Operatives of the Department of Strategic Investigations exposed a scheme of smuggling Russian medicines: medicines were sent from Russia to Moldova by buses, from where they were personally picked up by the suspects and illegally imported into Ukraine, bypassing customs control,” the statement said.
According to the investigation, the illegal import and sale of more than 20 items of Russian medicines was organised by two Azerbaijani citizens.
“They sold everything that was in demand – antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators, mental stimulants, etc. According to preliminary estimates, the suspects purchased Russian medicines worth at least UAH 1.5 million,” the National Police said.
Law enforcement officers gathered sufficient evidence and served two organisers – the owners of a pharmacy chain and two pharmacists – with a notice of suspicion. They are accused of conducting economic activity in cooperation with the aggressor state, committed as part of an organised group (Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The offenders face up to five years in prison with confiscation of property.
In addition, the regulatory authorities decided to revoke the licences of entrepreneurs engaged in retail and wholesale trade in these medicines.
