Zelensky appoints Olga Reshetylova as military ombudsman
16 October 11:41
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree appointing Olha Reshetylova (Kobylynska) as military ombudsman.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
By another decree, the head of state dismissed her from the post of Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemen and Members of Their Families.
Olga Reshetylova (Kobylynska) became the first military ombudsman in the history of Ukraine.
“This is about real protection of the rights of our soldiers. It is important that this is felt at all levels in the Ukrainian Defense Forces: we do what strengthens the army, we also do what strengthens the soldiers in our army,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
What we know about Olga Reshetylova
Olha Reshetylova is a co-founder of the “Come Back Alive” foundation to support the Ukrainian army. She coordinated the foundation’s work with law enforcement agencies and directly with the forces and means of the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine.
Reshetylova repeatedly visited Ukrainian soldiers in the combat zone, where she encountered human rights violations. In 2015, she left Come Back Alive and began to engage in journalistic and civic investigations of violations in the security sector.
In 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Reshetylova as a member of the Commission for the Selection of the Head of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption.
Work continues to establish the Office of the Military Ombudsman
In addition, active work is underway to establish the Office of the Military Ombudsman. The President signed a decree on its establishment on September 19 this year and approved its regulations.
“The main priority now is to launch the Office of the Military Ombudsman. At this time, it is also important not to lose the momentum in processing and responding to appeals and complaints from servicemen. Both in the status of the Presidential Ombudsman and in the status of the Military Ombudsman, I will work to ensure a sense of security for the military and to restore justice for them,” said Olga Reshetylova (Kobylynska).
The Office of the Military Ombudsman will be a permanent auxiliary body under the President of Ukraine that will provide civilian control over the observance of the rights of all the Defense Forces – active military, members of volunteer units of territorial communities, reservists on training, members of the resistance movement in the occupation and law enforcement officers involved in combat operations.
The Military Ombudsman will resolve problematic issues related to service and consider complaints,
