Mayor of Yuzhnoukrainsk accused of embezzlement

Police launched an investigation into a complaint filed by the deputy mayor of Pivdenoukrainsk. He accuses the mayor of forging documents and illegally appointing an official.

This was reported by Anti-Corruption Dimension.

The court ordered the police to open a criminal investigation into the statement of Deputy Mayor Serhiy Hornostai. He accuses the mayor of Pivdenoukrainsk, Valeriy Onufrienko, of forging documents and illegally employing an official, which, according to him, caused the community losses of more than UAH 910,000.

According to the ruling, in June 2021, the mayor signed a decree appointing a woman who presented a diploma from Moscow State University to the position of chief specialist of the public relations department. This document was not recognized in Ukraine, and therefore did not confirm the existence of higher education.

Nevertheless, according to the applicant, the mayor forged two documents - the appointment order and the conclusion of the special inspection, which contained false information about the woman's education. This may indicate official forgery. In addition, the payment of this official's salary for several years cost the community more than UAH 910 thousand, which, according to Hornostai, can be regarded as an embezzlement of budget funds.

He attached copies of orders, letters from the executive committee, a response from the Ministry of Education, and other documents that he believes confirm the facts of abuse. However, the police refused to open proceedings, citing "lack of grounds".

The court sided with the complainant and ordered the police department No. 3 of the Voznesensk District Administration to register the information in the URPTI under Articles 191 (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office) and 366 (forgery) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Now law enforcement officers must investigate and determine whether the actions of the mayor of Pivdenoukrainsk constitute a crime.

In June 2022, Onufrienko was suspended from his duties, but at the end of March 2024, he returned to office by court order. In the fall of the same year, the mayor went to court to recover 653 thousand hryvnias in compensation from the city budget for the time of his forced absences. According to him, he filed the lawsuit because the deputies had not made decisions on bonuses for three months. The mayor also said that if he receives the money, he will transfer it to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Анна Бальчінос