A court has obligated the NABU to investigate possible misconduct by former Minister Tkachenko and his deputy

A court has obligated the NABU to investigate possible misconduct by former Minister Tkachenko and his deputy

The High Anti-Corruption Court has mandated authorized representatives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau to enter information into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations regarding potential crimes committed by former Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko and his first deputy and acting minister Rostyslav Karandyeyev.

This was reported by «Glavcom» with reference to the court register.

The corresponding complaint about NABU’s inaction was filed with the court by the lawyer of the Holy Assumption Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, headed by Metropolitan Pavlo (Lebid) of the UOC MP. In it, the complainant stated that on June 9, a crime report was submitted to NABU regarding alleged offenses committed by officials of the «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra» National Reserve, former Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko, and his deputy Rostyslav Karandyeyev. According to estimates by the religious organization (which is the complainant to NABU), there was misuse of budgetary funds amounting to 1.9 million UAH and inefficient use of funds amounting to 29.5 million UAH.

«Officials of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, together with officials of the «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra» National Reserve, having a joint criminal intent, organized a scheme for the misuse and inefficient use of budgetary funds allocated for the protection of cultural heritage. These actions have caused significant damage to the state budget and may contain signs of crimes envisaged by Part 5 of Article 191 and Part 2 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code», reads the crime report by the Holy Assumption Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

As the court found out, NABU refused to initiate criminal proceedings based on the church’s statement because it did not see elements of a crime that directly fall under this anti-corruption body’s jurisdiction. At the same time, the court emphasized that criminal proceedings under Articles 191 and 210 of the Criminal Code are to be investigated by NABU.

In addition, the court reminded about the procedure law enforcement follows when they receive a crime report. According to the Criminal Procedure Code, the investigator is required to promptly, but not later than 24 hours after the submission of such a report, enter the relevant information into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations and begin the investigation.