The leadership of the newly established public organization "Ternopil Regional Wrestling Association of Ukraine" was elected in Ternopil. Businessman Volodymyr Babyak, who is one of the defendants in the case of the embezzlement of UAH 44 million during the reconstruction of a military lyceum in Sheptytskyi, Lviv region, became the president of the association.
The election of the new leadership of the regional wrestling association was announced on social media on September 6 by Eduard Proshchuk, a people's deputy from the Servant of the People party and vice president of the Ukrainian Wrestling Association. He announced the composition of the leadership: first vice president - Andriy Popyk, vice presidents - Andriy Teleban and Petro Korol, secretary - Roman Korolevych.
President of the Ukrainian Wrestling Association Yuriy Kopytko thanked Babyak for his "willingness to lead the team forward and develop wrestling in the region." Ternopil Mayor Serhiy Nadal received the status of honorary president of the newly created organization.
Volodymyr Babyak himself said that he plans to "develop children's and youth sports, create new opportunities for coaches and athletes, support champions, and prepare new generations of winners" with the team.
In March 2024, law enforcement officers detained a number of individuals on charges of embezzling UAH 44 million during the reconstruction of a military lyceum in Chervonohrad (now Sheptytskyi). Suspicions were raised against Volodymyr Babyak, ex-banker Vitaliy Lomakovich, director of Ukrstroykomplekt Yehor Klymenko, and others.
According to the National Police, the suspects fictitiously overstated the volume and cost of work performed, transferred money to subcontractors for work that was not performed, and thus misappropriated UAH 44 million.
In July 2024, the Halytskyi District Court of Lviv dropped the suspicion against businessman Vitaliy Lomakovich, but Volodymyr Babyak remains a defendant in the case.
Babyak's election to a leadership position in a sports organization caused public outcry due to his previous criminal cases and suspicions of embezzlement of budget funds.
