The National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve “Pereyaslav” took place by high-profile personnel changes that have already provoked public criticism. The court decided to temporarily remove the CEO Alexei Lukashevich from his post due to suspicion of bribery. His duties are currently performed by Marina Navalna - a deputy of the City Council from the Party for the Future, as well as a relative of Russian oppositionist Alexei Navalny.
On April 30, the court dismissed Lukashevich in the framework of the investigation under Article 368 (368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - obtaining an undue benefit. He was also assigned a precautionary measure in the form of night arrest, banned contact with witnesses and obliged to submit foreign documents.
Although removal is temporary, Pereyaslav does not exclude that Lukashevich will no longer return to the management of the institution. Another high -profile episode is added to the criminal proceedings - the case of an overestimated purchase of the Old Nativity Café building in 2018. The investigation believes that the real value of the object was about UAH 2.5 million, while they paid almost eight times more - 19.45 million.
The responsibilities of the head are currently performed by Marina Navalna, who has previously headed the Research Department of the Taras Shevchenko Museum of Testament. According to the official herself, from April 22 she has been holding the post of deputy director, and from April 28 temporarily manages the institution through the hospital Lukashevich.
The appointment of Navalny caused resonance because it turned out to be a cousin Alexei Navalny, a Russian oppositionist who died in a colony in February 2024. Although family connection is not a ground for discrimination, for some of the public, this fact has caused indignation, given the particular sensitivity to Russian ties during the war.
Since the reserve has the status of a national, the appointment of a new head was probably not without the participation of the Ministry of Culture and personally Minister Mykola Tochytsky. In local circles, such personnel decisions are impossible without the highest level.
The situation around Pereyaslav raises questions not only about the effectiveness of anti -corruption policy in the cultural sphere, but also about the transparency of the mechanisms of appointment to management positions in institutions of national importance.
