April 15, 2021 / 365 Observer
In the city of Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region, an officer of the Dnipro Internal Security Unit of the National Police of Ukraine was involved in a traffic accident and fled the scene.
Information was received by the Anti-Corruption Human Rights Council that on April 16, 2021, at approximately 8 a.m., a traffic accident occurred at the entrance to the city of Kamianske, on Sicheslavskyi Way, in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The accident allegedly involved an operative officer of the Dnipro Internal Security Unit of the Department of Internal Security of the National Police of Ukraine — Senior Lieutenant Kristian Volodymyrovych Layoš, a native of Uzhhorod, who was driving a black Skoda Octavia.
According to available information, on April 15, 2021, Layoš K.V., together with other law enforcement officers, had been celebrating the “Criminal Investigation Day,” and at the time of the accident he may have been under the influence of alcohol.
Upon arrival of officers from Police Station No. 2 (Bagliyskyi District) of the Kamianske District Police Department, it was established that Layoš K.V. had fled the scene of the accident. The vehicle’s license plates and documents were also missing, which may indicate an attempt to conceal the offense.
A VIN check of the Skoda Octavia revealed that the vehicle is registered to Layoš’s mother — Kateryna Vasylivna Layoš.
Additionally, according to preliminary data, a passenger in the vehicle sustained injuries (severity unknown), but did not seek medical assistance at local healthcare facilities in Kamianske.
At present, Police Station No. 2 has registered the incident as a wanted traffic accident committed by unidentified persons.
It should be noted that the Internal Security Unit of the National Police is tasked with detecting and preventing offenses committed by police officers. Therefore, the alleged commission of an offense, fleeing the scene, and attempting to evade responsibility by a member of this unit appears particularly serious.
Previously, it was reported that in 2020, Volodymyr Mykhailovych Zhelezniak was appointed head of the Internal Security Unit of the Dnipropetrovsk region. He had previously held senior positions in the Economic Protection Department of the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
After his appointment, the effectiveness of the unit reportedly declined. The officer allegedly involved in the accident had also previously worked in Ivano-Frankivsk under Zhelezniak’s supervision and was later transferred to his new unit.
Currently, the information regarding the accident, the fleeing from the scene, and the possible involvement of the Internal Security officer is being verified by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
It is hoped that those responsible, regardless of rank, will not avoid legal accountability.