Law enforcement officers exposed large-scale embezzlement of state funds at the Kyiv University of Culture
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have uncovered a large-scale scheme to embezzle public funds organized by the management of the private higher education institution “Kyiv University of Culture”. According to investigation data, representatives of the institution acted in collusion with officials of the Ministry of Education.
The perpetrators established a mechanism for misappropriating money allocated within the framework of the state program for training personnel and ensuring the activities of practice bases. During 2022–2023 alone, the institution received 760 million hryvnias from the budget.
The investigation established that the funding amounts were calculated based on data on the number of students, academic applicants, and staffing. Official documents allegedly contained false information, which allowed for the artificial inflating of state subsidies. The exact amount of misappropriated funds is currently being determined, but the Prosecutor General’s Office has already reported particularly large losses.
“We are checking information about the possible inclusion in the reporting of persons who actually belonged to a private educational institution and did not have the right to participate in the relevant budget program,” the prosecutor’s office noted.
As part of the criminal proceedings, more than 20 searches were conducted on March 27 at the residences of the persons involved and in the premises of the university itself. The case is being investigated under the article on misappropriation and embezzlement of property through abuse of official position. There are currently no official reports of suspicions or detentions, but the perpetrators face confiscation of property and long-term imprisonment.
“Law enforcement officers are establishing all the circumstances of the crime and the full range of persons who contributed to the implementation of this financial fraud”, the Security Service of Ukraine emphasized.
It is worth recalling that similar schemes surrounding this educational institution have already become the object of attention of journalists and law enforcement officers before. Back in 2014, an investigation revealed that the private university actually existed only on paper, using the material base of the state university to train contract workers. At that time, the institution’s license was revoked due to the lack of real educational buildings, but later the accreditation was restored by a decision of the relevant ministry.
Currently, the analysis of the seized documentation and computer equipment is underway to confirm the facts of falsification of reporting. Investigative actions are continuing in order to ensure compensation for the losses caused to the state.
