Embezzlement scheme uncovered at Kyiv University of Culture - PGO

Officials of the Kyiv University of Culture, in collusion with officials from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, organized a scheme for the illegal seizure of budget funds allocated under a state program for training personnel by higher education institutions, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) stated.

As law enforcement sources told Interfax-Ukraine, searches were conducted, among others, at the home of the former rector of the Kyiv University of Culture, Mykhailo Poplavsky.

"This concerns financing under the budget program ‘Training of personnel by higher education institutions and ensuring the operation of their internship bases.’ Throughout 2022-2023, approximately UAH 760 million was directed from the state budget to this educational institution under this program," the PGO reported on its Telegram channel.

In particular, the investigation established that the basis for determining the volume of state funding was data on the number of higher education students, researchers, and the institution’s staffing table.

According to law enforcement, unreliable information regarding the student body and academic staff may have been entered into official documents, providing grounds for an unfounded increase in funding volumes.

Furthermore, information is being verified regarding the possible inclusion in reports of individuals who actually belonged to a private educational institution and were not entitled to participate in the relevant budget program.

"According to preliminary data, these actions caused damage to the state on an especially large scale. Within the pre-trial investigation of the criminal proceedings on March 27, under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office, investigators of the National Police, with operational support from the SBU, conducted more than 20 searches at the residences of involved persons and on the premises of the Kyiv University of Culture," the department said.

It is noted that during the investigative actions, mobile phones, hard drives, and corporate seals that may contain evidence of illegal activity were seized.

In turn, the National Police reported that they have engaged specialists from the State Audit Service, and audit materials and financial documentation that could become key evidence in the case have already been seized during the investigation.

The criminal proceedings are being investigated under Part 3 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — misappropriation or embezzlement of property on an especially large scale, which carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison with a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years.

The pre-trial investigation is currently ongoing to establish all circumstances of the alleged crime and the full circle of involved persons.