Inconspicuous acquisition of real estate of the State Law Academy in Odesa: is Serhii Kivalov involved in this?
The scandal surrounding the property of the Odessa Law Academy: suspicions of embezzlement
A recent journalistic investigation has revealed that a significant portion of the property of the National University “Odesa Law Academy” (NU OYA) may be under the control of private structures closely associated with Serhiy Kivalov. This issue has become especially relevant against the background of plans to merge the institution with Odessa National University named after I.I. Mechnikova.
The report emphasizes that during the years of reorganization, several objects that previously belonged to the state or were used by the academy were found to be owned by commercial structures linked to the Kivalov family.
Problems with city and private property
For many years, the state real estate of the National University of Ukraine has been located next to private educational institutions owned by the Kivalov family. For example, the official address of NU OYUA is 23 Fontanska doroga, where the educational building is located, covering an area of almost 1.8 thousand square meters. The owner is the Ministry of Education of Ukraine, and the user is the academy itself.
However, the information about the property in this and neighboring locations is quite confusing, as the NU OYUA’s website and publications show photos of buildings that have no legal connection to the institution.
In particular, the images show the construction of the medical faculty of the International Humanitarian University, located at 23a Fontanska Doroga. This university belongs to Tetyana Kivalova and Serhiy Kosyanenko, relatives of Serhiy Kivalov.
Another example is the church of St. Martyr Tetiana, located at 2 Akademichnaya Street, which is documented as owned by the Odesa Diocese (UPC MP). Among Kivalov’s family ties, his involvement in the construction of this temple is also indicated.
Additionally, a stadium is located on this territory, which the students of NU OYUA and Moscow State University use.
Distribution of real estate between the state and the private
At the address Akademichna, 7, we have an example of the division of property between the state and private structures related to the Kivalov family. Here are the educational premises of the National University of Ukraine, owned by the Ministry of Education, as well as the premises of the discontinued Classical University “Odesa Law Academy”, which belong to Serhii Kosyanenko.
The transfer of rights to real estate has several stages: first, in 1997, these premises were allocated to employees of professional schools; later, in 2004, they were purchased by the International Humanitarian University; and in 2019, by the private university KU OYA.
There is currently no information on whether a state educational institution uses private facilities.
Losses of state property
At the address Akademichna, 30 NU OYUA lost most of its real estate. In 2020, this educational institution owned a large number of objects with an area of 37.3 thousand m². As a result of the distribution and reorganization, the state share decreased to 12.8 thousand m².
The private International Academic School “Odesa” was located on a vacant site and was founded by a charitable foundation associated with members of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. After that, the school changed hands, but currently remains in close contact with the Kivalovs.
Privatization of the territory for sports complexes
In 2011, the Odesa City Council transferred a plot of about 1.4 hectares to the National University “Odesa Law Academy” for the creation of a green space at 94 Novoberehova Street. However, large private facilities are located on this territory, including a sports and recreation complex owned by Kivalova’s wife.
The International Humanities University currently uses this sports complex; however, despite the presence of NU OYA signs, there is no confirmation of a formal lease of this facility.
