Sienkevych will suspend the head of the sports department pending the outcome of the investigation

On 29 April, Irina Bondarenko was served with a notice of suspicion under Article 191. Photo from the official’s personal Facebook page

Iryna Bondarenko, head of the Mykolaiv Sports Department, will be suspended from her post for the duration of the investigation.

This was stated by Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych in a comment to NikVesti.

The mayor said that he currently needs to hold a meeting with the relevant deputy and examine the substance of the charges.

«Yesterday I was in Kyiv for a meeting. Today I arrived at work and haven’t yet had the chance... I have now scheduled a meeting with Deputy Mayor Anatolii Petrov; we will make a decision. I haven’t even seen the details of these allegations. I think we will suspend her for the duration of the investigation or until a court decision is made,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

Mayor of Mykolaiv Oleksandr Sienkevych. Photo: NikVesti

When asked how international partners are reacting to potential corruption scandals involving city council officials, the mayor emphasised that the city adheres to a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse of power.

«We always cooperate with law enforcement agencies. We are trying to build a system in which there is no place for corruption, but we cannot change everyone. If these allegations are proven and this is done through the courts, of course, we will do everything to ensure that people do not work, even if they face administrative liability. We do not support any actions aimed at securing jobs and salaries for people there,» the mayor assured.

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As is known, on 29 April, Iryna Bondarenko, head of the Sports Department of the Mykolaiv City Council, was placed under suspicion of embezzling budget funds. The sum in question is over half a million hryvnias. Prior to this, law enforcement officers conducted a search of her home and car.

However, this is not the first search linked to Iryna Bondarenko. Investigative activities at the building of the Department of Physical Culture and Sport of the Mykolaiv City Council came to light on 20 January. Sources at law enforcement agencies told NikVesti that searches had taken place at Iryna Bondarenko’s department and two sports schools. According to our information, these are the «Peremoha» sports school, headed by Oleksandr Munch, and the «Specialised Children’s and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve №6», where the former head of the sports department, Oleh Mashkin, works as deputy director and boxing coach.

A few days later, Iryna Bondarenko, head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sport at Mykolaiv City Council, commented on the searches that took place last week. She accused the media of spreading rumours, whilst confirming that the department had provided all the necessary documents requested by the law enforcement agencies.

On 23 January, the Central District Court imposed a seizure order on property belonging to the Department of Physical Culture and Sport of the Mykolaiv City Council that had been seized during the searches.

At that time, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych did not suspend Iryna Bondarenko from her post. In a comment to NikVesti, the mayor later stated that the claim that the Department of Physical Culture and Sport had organised the sale of exemptions from mobilisation for $5,000 was untrue and that he was awaiting the outcome of the investigation.