Prokopiv real estate scandal: Klitschko’s deputy resigns after high-profile investigation
22 October 2024 12:00
Volodymyr Prokopiv has written a letter of resignation from his post as deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration following a journalist investigation into a number of properties owned by the official’s family and friends. He wrote about it on social media, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Today, on 22 October, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko temporarily suspended his deputy Volodymyr Prokopiv and asked the NABU, the National Police and other agencies to verify the facts presented in the journalists’ investigation.
“I am appealing to law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies to verify the facts presented by Bihus.Info investigative journalists regarding the deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration, Volodymyr Prokopiv,” he said.
He also said that, for the sake of objectivity, he had suspended Prokopiv from his duties as deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration for self-government powers for the duration of the inspection.
Prokopiv, in turn, said that he had written a letter of resignation from the post of deputy head of the KCSA. He said he was not holding on to it, but would continue to work for Kyiv residents.
He noted that he was ready for inspections by law enforcement agencies
“I have nothing to hide, so when they started calling my relatives and friends, I invited them to have an honest conversation. For almost two hours, I answered all the questions that the journalists were interested in. I respect the work of law enforcement agencies and other controlling state services. Therefore, if the latter see any signs of violations in my actions, I am ready and open to an audit. My reputation and the good name of my family are important to me,” Prokopiv said.
This refers to a Bihus.Info study that outlined the facts of the enrichment of the deputy, his family, and his circle of friends and associates. The material was recently published in two parts, and it shows that Prokopiv may have used his official position to enrich himself.
The first part of Bihus.Info’s investigation states that the family of Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Volodymyr Prokopiv owns a number of commercial and residential properties that appeared during the years of the official’s work in the Kyiv City Council and the city administration.
In the second part, the journalists note that two of Prokopiv’s friends have acquired at least six properties previously owned by the city through private companies.
Volodymyr Prokopiv is a long-time deputy of the Kyiv City Council, its former secretary, and head of the Eurosolidarity faction. He has been working as Klitschko’s deputy in the Kyiv City State Administration for four years.
