The rector of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyr Buhrov, who was recently mentioned for inflated prices for food purchases for his students, has become the owner of an apartment in an elite new building in the capital, which he apparently did not have the money to buy. Slidstvo.Info has received the contract for the purchase of the apartment and analysed his declarations. The rector himself insists that he had enough money and accused the journalist of interfering in his personal life. The expert sees Buhrov’s actions as declaring false information.
The newly built White Lines residential complex is located in a picturesque place in the capital – right at the entrance to Holosiivskyi Park and next to the metro. The developers promise a whole hectare of park on the roof of the buildings, as well as a fitness club with a swimming pool. This business-class complex is located behind the Dovzhenko Centre, whose destruction has been protested by the film community for years. By the way, one of the reasons for its destruction was the appetite of neighbouring developers.
Last year, the rector of the Kyiv National University, Volodymyr Buhrov, became the owner of an apartment in the White Lines complex, which is still partially under construction. According to the register of real rights to real estate, on 21 December 2023, he registered a two-bedroom apartment of 74.7 sq m. Currently, such apartments cost more than $200 thousand.
Ad for sale of an apartment in the White Lines residential complex from OLX
The journalists of Slidstvo.Info received the contracts on the basis of which Buhrov registered the property.
As stated in the documents, the educator purchased bonds, which he could exchange for square metres after the construction was completed. The deal was concluded in the autumn of 2020.
Indeed, Buhrov’s 2020 declaration shows real estate bonds. At that time, he held the position of vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work. Both the declaration and the documents received by the editorial office refer to 7444 bonds worth UAH 231 each, totalling UAH 1.7 million. This is the nominal value of the bonds.
Bond purchase and sale agreement dated 5 November 2020
However, the same document shows that the amount paid by Buhrov amounts to almost UAH 3.5 million (USD 123,868 in 2020).
Bond purchase and sale agreement dated 5 November 2020
Under the terms of the agreement, Buhrov had to pay almost all of this amount within 9 days. Later, in a comment to a journalist of Slidstvo.Info, the rector confirmed that he had deposited the funds on time.
After analysing Buhrov’s declarations, it can be concluded that he did not have the declared funds to purchase this property. In 2020, his family earned UAH 1.3 million. Between 2019 and 2020 (when the investment agreement was concluded), the savings of Buhrov and his family did not decrease, but rather increased.
So, it is unknown where the current rector got millions of hryvnias to buy bonds, which in a few years became an apartment in an elite residential complex.
Rector of Kyiv National University Volodymyr Buhrov at a press conference on 6 February 2024
A journalist from Slidstvo.Info met with Volodymyr Buhrov to find out where he got the 3.5 million to buy the apartment. At first, the rector could not remember how much he had paid for the apartment, so the journalist showed him a copy of the investment agreement.
Journalist: Under this agreement, you undertook to pay $122,000 by 13 November 2020. Where did you get the UAH 3.5 million at that time?
Volodymyr Buhrov: My declarations show all the income I have had for the entire time I have been working, and we were saving this money to invest in construction.
Journalist: Your savings haven’t decreased if we compare 2019 and 2020, they have only increased.
Volodymyr Buhrov: The declaration for this year will show less.
Journalist: For what year?
Volodymyr Buhrov: For 2023.
Journalist: This is an agreement dated 5 November 2020, you declared ownership of 7444 bonds. According to this agreement, the bonds are due for payment by 13 November 2020. Where did the 3.5 million in 2020 come from?
Volodymyr Buhrov: I didn’t earn it in 2020. I earned it before that.
Journalist: So you spent your savings?
Volodymyr Buhrov: Yes.
Journalist: If you compare your savings in 2019 and 2020, you have only increased your savings.
Volodymyr Buhrov: I still had income.
Journalist: So you had this money, 3.5 million, you just didn’t put it in your declaration?
Volodymyr Buhrov: I put everything in my declaration, there is no need to manipulate.
Buhrov refused to answer further questions, saying that he saw the journalist’s questions as interference in his personal life.
In addition to the fact that the rector could not explain where he got the money for the expensive apartment, journalists found that in the declarations for 2020-2022, Buhrov did not declare his right to an asset under construction, indicating only the existing securities in the declaration. Buhrov also failed to indicate real estate expenses in his 2020 declaration. That is, the amount he spent on the apartment.
According to Vadym Valko, a lawyer at the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, this has signs of a corruption offence.
“There is an explanation of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC), which states that if the declarant has acquired ownership of securities for an asset under construction, both the asset and the securities must be indicated,” Valko said.
He notes that this may be a violation of Article 366-2(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (declaration of false information). The minimum sanction of this article provides for a fine, the maximum – restriction of liberty for up to two years.
As a reminder, on 18 January, Nashi Hroshi published an investigation into the fact that Kyiv National University was purchasing food for its cadets at inflated prices. The university stated that they did not buy expensive products, but instead discovered a technical error. Later, on 23 January, a petition was posted on the website of the President’s Office calling for the termination of the contract with Volodymyr Buhrov due to “corruption and immoral behaviour”.
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