Review of Yaroslav Zheleznyak's declaration raises questions

People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced the completion of the review of his 2022 declaration, which was conducted by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP). 

The politician emphasised that the supervisory authorities had no claims against him. However, public attention was drawn to another fact: the 2022 declaration lacks information about an apartment in Kyiv worth over 11 million hryvnias, which appeared in the deputy's family's possession a year later.

According to data on the NACP website, this real estate object has not yet been included in the scope of the review, as the official examination of 2023 declarations has not yet begun.

How did the luxury property appear?

Yaroslav Zheleznyak's family moved into the new apartment in August 2023. However, the origin of the funds used for its purchase, the method of registering the property in the name of his wife's father, and the conditions of residence in this real estate have so far remained outside the attention of anti-corruption authorities.

Experts note that the NACP will only be able to examine this issue after the submission of 2023 declarations by both the deputy himself and his wife, Olena Koval. Until then, the situation remains in limbo.

Public resonance

News of the acquisition of luxury housing sparked heated discussion in society. Against the backdrop of a full-scale war and economic difficulties, the purchase of real estate in a prestigious district of Kyiv for millions of hryvnias is perceived ambiguously by many.

Sergey Danilchenko, a serviceman, commenting on the situation, sarcastically noted:

«Пока одни губят здоровье, годы на службе, единственную жизнь, другие в Покровске откручивают бойлеры и грузят мебель в машины, а третьи запускают успешные семейные ‘бизнесы’. Всё нормально. Мы вместе. Мы пахали — я и трактор» (While some are ruining their health, years of service, and their only life, others in Pokrovsk are unscrewing water heaters and loading furniture into cars, while others are launching successful family 'businesses'. Everything is normal. We are together. We ploughed — me and the tractor).

This phrase, hinting at social injustice, has become a symbol of dissatisfaction among a segment of the population.

The deputy's silence

At present, Yaroslav Zheleznyak has not provided official comments regarding the source of funds for the purchase of the real estate. It is unknown whether he will publicly explain the situation or wait for an official investigation by the NACP.

The question of the acquisition of the luxury apartment remains open, and Ukrainian society awaits further explanations from the deputy and anti-corruption authorities.