Prosecutors of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office, together with investigators and operatives of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odesa region, uncovered an organized criminal group that illegally deprived people of their liberty under the guise of a rehabilitation center. As a result of the special operation, five members of the group were detained.

According to the investigation, the suspects set up a pseudo-rehabilitation center in the private sector of one of the districts of Odesa for the supposed treatment of alcohol and drug addicts. In reality, it was a facility with strict isolation, where people were held against their will, without medical permits and proper professional assistance.

The organizer of the scheme turned out to be a resident of Kharkiv, who involved several acquaintances in the criminal activity and used a controlled public organization to cover up the activities of the "center".

The "rehabilitation course" amounted to total control: forced labor, sleep deprivation, cold water dousing, writing religious texts, and punishment for violating internal rules – including collective responsibility.

As part of the investigation, dozens of similar cases have been recorded, including those involving five minors who were freed during the searches.

Under the procedural guidance of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office, the organizer and four members of the criminal group have been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - illegal deprivation of liberty, kidnapping, committed for mercenary motives, carried out over a long period, committed by an organized group.

At the request of the prosecutors, preventive measures in the form of detention have been chosen for the suspects.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.