Corruption scandal: why Klitschko fires metro director Braginsky
15 March 2024 11:40
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said he would suspend Viktor Braginsky from his duties as director of the Kyiv Metro following an investigation by Bihus.Info journalists, Kommersant Ukrainian reports 
Bihus .info journalists have published an investigation into embezzlement in the Kyiv metro. They found undeclared property worth 52 million hryvnias in the possession of Braginsky, the head of the subway.
The journalists found UAH 2 million in Braginsky’s mother’s declaration, which she almost immediately transferred to her son. In addition, in January 2024, she became the owner of two two-bedroom apartments in a residential complex in Kyiv.
The pensioner herself told investigators that she had invested in the construction 5 years ago, and her son did not give her money to buy it.
The journalists also named Braginsky’s sister as being involved in the inflow of money. According to their information, two years ago, the head of the subway declared an income of almost UAH 2 million from selling a land plot in Kyiv region to his sister, Anna Fenina, at a markup of almost 10 times.
Investigators also found out that for many years Braginsky did not mention his wife and children in his declarations. But in the 2020 declaration, three of them appeared at once. At the same time, a two-room apartment was found to be owned by Braginsky’s wife, Olga, next to the one-room apartment of the Metro director himself. She also owns a dacha in Kozyn, with a plot of land worth about $760,000.
In a conversation with journalists, Olga said that she had broken up with Braginsky more than 10 years ago. They allegedly bought the apartments next door because they had children together.
Braginsky himself did not want to talk to journalists, but sent a response to a request stating that he and his wife had separated in 2013.
Vitali Klitschko reacted to the published investigation by Bihus info journalists on his telegram channel.
“It’s an evil evening. With unpleasant, let’s say, discoveries for me… Conclusion. Viktor Braginsky will be suspended from his duties as director of the Kyiv Metro. Or he will not resist and will write a letter of resignation. And then the facts revealed in the investigation by Bihus info journalists should be dealt with by the relevant authorities. Law enforcement agencies,”
– Vitali Klitschko wrote.
He stressed that Braginsky’s behaviour looks bad not only in relation to him personally, but also in relation to the people of Kyiv.
“From a philosophical point of view, you can’t look into everyone’s soul. But when they lie to your face and pull rabbits out of a hat behind your back, it looks too bad. And not only in relation to me personally, but in relation to the people of Kyiv,”
– added the mayor of Kyiv.
Viktor Braginsky was appointed head of Kyiv Metro by Vitali Klitschko on 16 July 2014.
It should be noted that on 9 December 2023, the Kyiv Metro stopped traffic between Teremky and Lybidska stations due to the need for urgent repairs to the overhead tunnel between the stations.
A total of six stations were affected. The authorities explained that due to “uneven processes of compaction, vibration creep of the surrounding soil massif and the load on the tunnel lining, there is a risk of loss of stability of the tunnel structures”. The operation of this section was suspended for approximately six months.
The closed stations are now only used as shelters during air raids.
