The Ministry of Education terminates the contract of fugitive MP Odarchenko, who continues to hold the position of rector of the university
The Ministry of Education and Science is terminating the contract with the convicted People’s Deputy Andriy Odarchenko, who still formally remains the rector of the State Biotechnology University in Kharkiv.
“Legal procedures are now underway. We have the fact of violation of the law, and that is enough. When we receive the entire package of legal decisions regarding him, we intend to terminate this contract.”, — Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi said during a meeting with scientists in Kharkiv
Minister of Education reported, that the Defense Council of the Kharkiv region allowed the elections of managers in higher education institutions of the region. All universities that require elections will gradually be involved in this process, including the State University of Biotechnology.
We will remind that in 2019, while holding the position of rector, Odarchenko was elected a People’s Deputy of the 9th convocation from the 170th district in Kharkiv. His contract with the university was then suspended, and the rector’s duties were transferred to Andrii Kudryashov.
On November 21, 2023, NABU exposed Odarchenko for trying to give a bribe in the form of cryptocurrency in the amount equivalent to 50 thousand dollars to the head of the State Agency for Reconstruction, Mustafa Nayem. The People’s Deputy tried to obtain the allocation of funds for the renovation of the university.
After his arrest, Odarchenko was released on bail in the amount of 15 million hryvnias, but later he was declared a state and international wanted man. According to the investigation, he illegally crossed the border in Krasnoilsk district of Chernivtsi region and fled to Romania. On October 10, the parliament excluded him from the Committee on Anti-corruption Policy.
On November 14, the High Anti-Corruption Court sentenced Odarchenko to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.
