Canadian immigration authorities have begun vetting Ukrainian men who have applied for permanent residence. In particular, they are required to provide certified copies of documents confirming their exemption from mandatory military service in Ukraine.
As Ukrainian Canada reports, the letters remind Ukrainians that compulsory military service in Ukraine begins at the age of 25. Applicants for the PMP are required to have discharge documents or military ID cards issued by competent authorities.
Of particular note are a number of Ukrainian officials and law enforcement officers who left the country during mobilization. One of them is the former prosecutor of the Prosecutor General's Office, Ihor Stadnik. While still in his position as head of the Department of Supervision of Law Enforcement by the BEB, he left for Canada.
Stadnik's name is associated with high-profile cases regarding the systematic delay of criminal prosecutions of Russian business structures. Despite criticism, his actions have not been legally assessed in Ukraine.
Canadian law enforcement officers are currently studying his documents. The issue of extradition of Ukrainian citizens who could have avoided mobilization under the guise of diplomatic or official status remains open. Ihor Stadnik may become the first precedent in this area.
