Another scandal has erupted in Kyiv surrounding the mayor of the capital, Vitaliy Klitschko, and a circle of influential developers. The occasion was the christening of the son of one of the city's largest developers, Vagif Aliyev, which was attended not only by millionaires and politicians, but also by the mayor himself.
Investigator Mykhailo Tkach published a video on the YouTube channel of Ukrainska Pravda called “The Godfather of Developers. The Story of One Celebration with Vitali Klitschko.” The material talks about an elite party on the banks of the Dnieper River, where a whole cohort of influential developers gathered — among them Vadim Stolar, who, according to the publication, became the godfather of Aliyev’s son.
The presence of Kyiv Mayor Klitschko and his close associate Artur Palatny, the head of the UDAR party executive committee, attracted particular attention. This fact, journalists note, became symbolic evidence of the close relationship between the capital's authorities and business, which has been shaping the appearance of Kyiv at its own discretion for decades.
The public has repeatedly expressed outrage at the way developers are distorting the city's historic appearance, with skyscrapers and shopping malls appearing where green areas or public spaces should be. Despite this, Klitschko maintains friendly relations with key market players, including Vagif Aliyev and Vadim Stolar.
Journalists emphasize that in any democratic country, such contacts between officials and business are of public importance, as they raise questions about a possible conflict of interest. And not without reason: ten days after the christening, Mayor Klitschko signed an order to reconstruct the exits from the Akademmistechko metro station. According to activists, the work will be carried out by Grotto LLC, a company associated with Vadim Stolar, the godfather of Aliyev's son.
Public organizations are sounding the alarm: the "reconstruction" involves the actual construction of a new shopping and entertainment center near the metro. This will create difficulties for passengers, complicate evacuation in case of emergencies, and once again put business interests above the convenience of Kyiv residents.
For now, the authorities are silent, and new shopping malls and residential complexes continue to spring up in the capital. Developers are increasing their fortunes, and the community is watching another holiday of billionaires with the mayor - a holiday that is once again called a "private matter."
