Secretary of the Chernihiv City Council Oleksandr Lomako, who was temporarily acting as the city mayor, announced his resignation. He made this known in his video address dedicated to the Day of Local Self-Government.
“Today, on Local Self-Government Day, I submit my resignation from the position of Secretary of the City Council and ask that it be considered at the next session. For me, the life of the city is more important than any positions,” Lomako said.
This statement came against the backdrop of a series of scandals related to the official's activities. In October, the State Bureau of Investigation searched his apartment. The reason was possible violations during a business trip to Europe.
As the SBI found out, in May Lomako officially traveled to Germany on business, but also managed to visit France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Chernihiv City Council deputy Maryna Semenenko previously publicly expressed suspicions about the misuse of time and resources during foreign trips by city officials. In particular, she stated that Lomako visited Paris twice during the year.
Oleksandr Lomako served as mayor of Chernihiv after the resignation of the previous mayor. His activities have been met with mixed reviews: on the one hand, he was actively involved in the restoration of the city after the fighting, on the other hand, he was embroiled in scandals related to trips abroad and accusations of inefficient management.
After considering Lomako's application, the city council must determine a new secretary who will continue to perform the duties of the mayor until the election. In the meantime, the official's resignation could become another hot topic for discussions about transparency and accountability of local government.
This case once again highlights the need for tighter control over the actions of officials, especially during wartime, when every resource should be spent on rebuilding the country, not on travel or possible violations.
