Ukraine’s justice ministry puts underwears up for auction, takes netizens by storm

The items were seized in the central city of Kryvyi Rih, and put up for auction following bailiffs’ raids on debtors, the BBC reported. “There have also been cases of the state auctioning off cows and sheep. The Covid pandemic has raised the number of registered Ukrainian debtors above 2m,” the report said.

As the screenshot of the unusual auctioned items along with the reports went viral, The System of Electronic Bidding for Arrested Property (SETAM) explained why the controversial items were listed to go under the hammer. “It’s very sad that we have to comment on the sale of underwear, not more interesting and important auctions for the country such as the sale of a portion of the corporate rights of Sumy Machine-Building Scientific and Production Association to repay the debts of employees of enterprises or planes confiscated for smuggling,” they wrote.

Taking to Facebook, the state-owned agency put out a statement saying 36 lots of lingerie items were put up for sale at the OpenMarket electronic auction after they were confiscated from a man who was illegally selling underwear on the sidewalk in Kryvyi Rih.

According to the administrative offence protocol, a person who is currently a debtor within executive proceedings No. 63239355, cannot carry out trade in an unstalled place. Hence, authorities had to confiscate his property.

“The decision on confiscation is subject to execution by the state executive service… According to the Constitution of Ukraine, the court decision is binding,” the statement added.