Zelenskyy has chosen candidate for position of military ombudsman

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he has chosen a "strong candidate" for the position of military ombudsman, with the corresponding decree set to be published on Monday, 30 December.

Source: President’s evening address

Quote: "Now, the first decision has been prepared — a decree on appointing the President’s Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel and their Families – to initiate the process and prepare for the launch of the ombudsman’s institution.

I have selected a candidate – a strong candidate. The decree will be published tomorrow. Together with the new commissioner, the human rights community and the Ministry of Defenсe, we will draft a corresponding bill on the Military Ombudsman and establish the institutional framework for its operation — powers, finances and everything else. I urge the Verkhovna Rada [Ukraine’s parliament – ed.] of Ukraine and the government to promptly support the innovations that will be proposed. We must launch the Military Ombudsman’s work shortly."

Details: Zelenskyy noted that the creation of the military ombudsman institution was a request from the military and an objective necessity.

Quote: "We need a person who can effectively protect the rights of our warriors and such a systemic capacity so that the ombudsman, together with the Ministry of Defenсe and all the others who are needed, can really influence the situation and really help warriors and the families of our warriors.

We discussed the creation of this institution with the Minister of Defenсe of Ukraine, the military command and representatives of civil society. Many perspectives were considered."

Background:

• On 18 November, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov announced that Ukraine would have a military ombudsman to protect the rights of servicemen. He also said that the appointment would be announced shortly.
• On 19 November, Zelenskyy said that he had instructed the Ministry of Defence and the military command to select and appoint a military ombudsman in the near future.
• Since 2022, soldiers have sent the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights 1,964 complaints about military units.

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