A Romanian tourist has been held in neighboring Ukraine for the past month and a half after customs workers found a telescopic cane in his car truck and charged him with gun smuggling.
Radu Vasile Hirtie spent three days in arrest and was then released under the interdiction to leave Ukraine. He confessed to being threatened that if he fails to admit his fault, he will spend long years there. Yet, his lawyer complains the probe is taking too long while the Romanian deputy consul, Eleonora Moldova, says this is not the first such case.
Instead of being home by his pregnant wife’s side, the 24-year old man, is fighting in court the local authorities.
A cane brought by trouble
It all started on May 29 when Hirtie with some friends went to Ukraine by car to do some cheap shopping. While at the border, a customs officer looked into the car truck and noticed the cane the man was carrying. “I’ve been to Ukraine several times with that cane in my truck,” Hirtie told EVZ, adding he uses it for self-defense at his job. He is a taxi driver.
Local authorities opened a criminal file against the young man, whom they accused of gun smuggling. After a few days in prison a local court admitted a bail and set him free. Still, Hirtie had to pay a 1,200 euro fine.
Investigations against him are on-going, while he found lodging with a local family after staying at a hotel.
Four similar cases were registered this year.
The Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) promised all its support, providing legal assistance and helping out with the papers.
Also read Turist român, prizonier în Ucraina