Odesa deputy accuses ex-zoo director of inciting hatred against her

Odesa City Council member Olha Kvasnytska has filed a police report against the former director of the Odesa Zoo, Ihor Bilyakov, accusing him of creating artificial obstacles to her activities as a deputy, as well as of deliberately inciting hatred against her, which has already had concrete consequences.

She posted this on her Facebook page.

"The real reason for such fierce pressure and discredit is quite clear. This is a reaction to my principled position: the demand to conduct an immediate operational and financial audit, as well as to create an independent supervisory board in the institution. A municipal institution that has such terrible statistics - a large number of animal deaths and their constant illnesses - cannot avoid inspections and remain without independent control. The reaction in the form of obstructing my work only confirms that there is something to hide," the MP said.

Currently, the police have registered a possible offense under Part 1 of Article 351 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Obstruction of the activities of a Member of Parliament of Ukraine and a member of a local council) in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations.

If Ihor Bilyakov is brought to court and found guilty, he faces a fine of one thousand to two thousand tax-free minimum incomes, or probationary supervision for up to three years, or restraint of liberty for the same period.

Meanwhile, the acting head of the Odesa City Council, Ihor Koval, appointed Oksana Termovsyants as acting director of the Odesa Zoo.

Recently, a scandal erupted in Odesa over the appointment of a new zoo director, who was handed over without an open competition. The decision has already raised suspicions about the possible influence of private entities and attempts to establish a monopoly.

The position of the director of the Odesa Zoo was transferred to an employee of the private structure Biopark-Nemo without a competition, a commission or an official announcement of the selection of candidates.

On April 15, Ihor Bilyakov announced the completion of his work as director of the Odesa Zoo. According to him, the contract has expired, and he is no longer in charge of the institution to which he has devoted a significant part of his life.

The ex-director also emphasized that he does not plan to completely leave his life's work. He assured that he would continue to support the Odesa Zoo and contribute to its development, even outside of his official position.

Кирило Бойко