The investigation into the case of an organized group involved in arranging sham marriages with Ukrainian women for foreign citizens has been completed in the capital. Eight individuals will stand trial, including three residents of the Kyiv region and citizens of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Scheme for legalizing foreigners through sham marriages
According to the investigation materials, the organizers found women who were in difficult financial situations and offered them to enter into sham marriages with foreigners. For this “service,” the women received between 2,000 and 10,000 hryvnias. The foreigners paid the organizers between one and three thousand US dollars for legalization in Ukraine.
“Women in financial distress were chosen to play the role of sham wives, agreeing to marry for 2,000 to 10,000 hryvnias. The organizers charged foreigners for their services between 1,000 and 3,000 US dollars,” the prosecutor’s office reported.
Criminal liability and details of the case
The actions of the accused have been classified under part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine, committed by an organized group. If found guilty, the suspects face imprisonment for a term of seven to nine years with confiscation of property.
Law enforcement officials remind that such schemes not only violate Ukrainian legislation but also pose a threat to the national security of the state.