Under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the State Bureau of Investigations is conducting a pre-trial investigation in a criminal proceeding regarding the suspicion of the president of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine in aiding the embezzlement of budget funds, committed in conspiracy by a group of individuals (part 5 of article 27, part 3 of article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

As established during the investigation, the president of the NAAS facilitated the fictitious employment of his personal driver in formal positions at four state agricultural enterprises under his control. In fact, he performed the duties of a personal driver, while receiving a salary totaling over 200,000 UAH from the state budget.

Within the framework of the proceedings, the Office of the Prosecutor General submitted a motion to the court for the temporary suspension of the president of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, which was granted by the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv. In addition to the suspension from office, the court partially granted the prosecution's request for the application of a preventive measure, imposing a number of obligations on the suspect as provided by article 194 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

Due to the leniency of the chosen preventive measure, the prosecution filed an appeal, as it reasonably believes that there are risks of the suspect influencing the course of the investigation.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. 

Note: according to article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict of the court.