A resolution to dismiss Sports Minister Bidny has been registered in the Rada: what happened
9 April 05:19
A draft resolution calling for the dismissal of Ukraine’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Matviy Bidny, has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The document was initiated by People’s Deputy Yuriy Pavlenko, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The resolution in question is No. 15137, which was registered on April 7, 2026.
Pavlenko cites the minister’s actions regarding the election of the rector of the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine as the reason for the initiative. According to the MP, the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ decision regarding the electoral process at the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine constituted interference in academic freedom and university autonomy, which are guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine.
What exactly happened
A scandal erupted over the election of the NUPESU rector. The Ministry of Youth and Sports postponed the vote, which was scheduled for March 25, to September 23, 2026. The ministry explained this by the need to verify information about possible violations and abuses during the preparations for the election. Minister Matvii Bidnyi himself publicly announced this decision during Question Time with the government in the Verkhovna Rada.
As early as March 24, the university’s website reported that the rector’s election was entering the final stretch, and the organizing committee, election commission, trade union, student council, and university administration had sent a letter to the minister. This indicated that the university was preparing to hold the election on schedule.
Why Pavlenko is demanding Bidny’s dismissal
Yuriy Pavlenko stated that the minister’s decision constituted an unprecedented violation of academic freedom and an attempt to exert political control over the university. In his public statements, the deputy asserts that the minister’s actions were not merely an administrative error, but deliberate pressure on the independent electoral process at the institution of higher education. That is why he initiated a draft resolution to remove Bidny from office.
It should be noted that the ministry’s decision to postpone the elections and personnel actions regarding the university’s leadership sparked protests among parts of the sports and educational communities.
What is the essence of the conflict surrounding the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
The National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine is one of the country’s leading specialized institutions, where specialists for the sports industry are trained and future champions are nurtured. That is why any interference in the election of its leadership automatically generates widespread attention. In reports surrounding the scandal, the NUPESU is described as the main breeding ground for Olympic champions and one of the iconic universities of Ukrainian sports.
The crux of the dispute lies in differing views on the legitimacy of postponing the elections. The Ministry cites the need to investigate reports of possible violations, while critics of the decision view it as interference in the university’s autonomy and an attempt to influence the outcome of the electoral process.
What does the registration of the resolution mean?
The registration of the draft resolution in the Verkhovna Rada does not yet mean the automatic dismissal of the minister. It means that the issue has been officially introduced into the parliamentary procedure and may be considered by deputies in the session hall. A vote by the Verkhovna Rada is required to pass the resolution.
At the same time, the very appearance of such a document is an important political signal. It shows that the conflict surrounding the election of the NUPSU rector has already reached the level of a parliamentary response and has become part of a broader discussion about the limits of the ministry’s authority in the sphere of higher education and sports
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