Rector of Mykolaiv university caught on bribe for issuing diploma

The rector of a Mykolaiv university took a bribe to issue a diploma. The court found him guilty and fined him and banned him from holding managerial positions for a year.

This is evidenced by the verdict of the Zavodskyi District Court of Mykolaiv.

The Zavodskyi District Court of Mykolaiv found the former acting rector of the International Technological University "Mykolaiv Polytechnic" guilty of extortion and receiving undue benefit for issuing a bachelor's degree. For this, he was fined UAH 68,000 and banned from holding leadership positions for a year.

According to the investigation, the accused, who also served as vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work, in October 2024 demanded a bribe of UAH 36 thousand from a student for issuing a diploma in road transport.

Although the document had already been issued and the student had the right to receive it without hindrance, the official took the diploma from the dean's office and signed the issuance log, blocking access to the document.

When he met with the student, he repeatedly hinted at the need to "thank" him, and then directly announced the amount of the bribe on Telegram. On the same day, he received the money in cash at the university premises and issued the diploma.

During the court hearing, the defendant pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement with the prosecutor. He also voluntarily agreed to transfer UAH 100 thousand to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The court approved the plea agreement, imposed a fine and a one-year ban on leadership positions. The bail was also canceled, and a total of more than UAH 1 million paid for the accused will be returned to the three people.

Last year, an educator was detained in Mykolaiv who was suspected of helping her husband evade mobilization. According to the investigation, in September, as a member of the admission committee of a local college, she offered a local resident assistance with admission to the educational institution. For this, she asked for a monetary reward. Studying at the college would give the man the right to defer military service. The woman was chosen a measure of restraint in the form of detention. She now faces up to four years in prison.

Анна Бальчінос