How free apostillation of documents became a private service

While Ukrainian students continue their studies under airstrikes, their right to education and academic mobility is becoming increasingly inaccessible due to the commercialization of this area.

Obtaining an apostille for educational documents, which is necessary for studying abroad or confirming a diploma, has effectively become an inaccessible public service. Instead of a transparent and predictable process, citizens are faced with a lack of service, artificial queues, and commercial “alternatives” that are imposed.

In fact, the only enterprise authorized to apostille is the State Enterprise “Information and Image Center”. However, access to this service is systematically limited: receipt of documents is often suspended, the electronic queue is unavailable, the consideration process is delayed without explanation, and refusals are given orally, without documentation of the reasons. Therefore, citizens are unable to use the public service legally.

The Information and Image Center, headed by Victoria Sergienko and subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Science, plays a key role in addressing this situation. Minister Oksen Lisovyi and his deputy, Mykola Trofymenko, have not responded to numerous complaints for a long time, which may indicate conscious support for a model beneficial to boys rather than a management error.

At the same time, citizens are directed to a private firm — PE “SHLYAKH DO MRII.OK” (Kyiv, 23/35 Ioanna Pavla II St.). This company does not have the official authority to apostille documents, but offers express processing services at a significant fee. The prices for services depend on the deadlines that the state structure fails to meet. The firm uses a network of fake legal brands and websites, such as Koval Legal Group and Result Law Company, which are not registered as business entities. The uniform style of communication, addresses, and contacts indicates the presence of a centralized scheme aimed at misleading.

Of particular interest are the internal documents of the Ministry of Education and this enterprise: the rules for accepting documents, the terms of consideration, and the rules for cooperation with third parties. Analysis of these documents may reveal signs of deliberate deficit creation and the redirection of citizens to paid services.