Kyiv Official Charged for Forged Documents in Fake Business Trips

On Tuesday, September 30, the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office announced the suspicion of the head of the apparatus of the Kyiv City Council’s executive body and the Kyiv City State Administration for using forged documents that allowed him to travel abroad under the guise of official business trips.

The suspect’s name is not publicly disclosed; however, data from the official city administration website confirm that it is Dmytro Zahumenniy, the head of the apparatus of the Kyiv City State Administration.

According to investigators, in November 2023 he traveled to Barcelona supposedly to participate in the Smart City Expo World Congress – a three-day annual event. The trip lasted from November 4 to 12, and investigators established that invitations from the organizers were not sent, i.e., a forged document was used.

Also in September of the previous year Zahumenniy traveled to Florence as part of participating in the Observatory on Re-Generation conference. He again used a non-existent invitation, and the trip lasted from October 13 to 20.

After the trips, the official submitted written reports on the trips, and the investigation found that he traveled together with family members.

Chronicle of the Case and Political Consequences

The prosecutor’s office classified the suspect’s actions under Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (deliberate false information inserted into official documents by a public official) and Parts 3 and 4 of Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (forgery of an official document that grants rights, using a forged document with the prior consent of a group of persons; repeated forgery of a document).

In the investigative materials it is also noted that the case unfolds against the backdrop of a tense confrontation between Kyiv’s city leadership and central authorities, adding a political dimension to staffing processes in the capital.

Analysts are considering various scenarios for developments regarding the work of the Kyiv City Council and the interaction between the branches of power in the city, in particular the impact on staffing decisions and the interaction between the government and the capital administration.

The investigation continues: the prosecutor’s office is gathering evidence, and the case may be transferred to court to decide on the suspicion and further procedural actions. Updates on the proceedings will be announced immediately after the completion of the investigative procedures.