How much did Maslov take to extend the director of the Institute of Forensic Examinations’ contract? How can an ordinary police officer get the position of head of Poltava SIZO in six months?

Justice Minister Denys Maslov came to Kharkiv supposedly on an official visit, but the main meeting awaited him not in the offices of the Kharkiv Interregional Department or the Bokarius Institute of Forensic Examinations. Maslov went to see Kupriyanova — the institute director whose contract expires in September — to discuss its extension and the sum for which this matter should be “resolved.” But this personnel “package” did not end there: at the same time they were settling the case of her brother Mark Dovhan, who, after a lightning-fast move from head of the criminal investigation department of Kharkiv’s Industrial district to the Justice Ministry system, could within a few months be seated in the chair as head of Poltava SIZO. All these career special offers took place with the help of Kupriyanova’s lover — Deputy Minister Andriy Haichenko, who apparently decided to ingratiate himself with his newly made relative.

Behind Mark Dovhan’s rapid career rise there is not years of experience in the penitentiary system or any special professional achievements, but money for which Minister Denys Maslov must sign an appointment order. As early as March, Dovhan, who until then led the criminal investigation of Kharkiv’s Industrial district, moved into the penitentiary system and immediately became deputy head of Odesa SIZO, and now in less than six months he is being prepared to head Poltava SIZO. At the same time, Dovhan drives a Lexus 2022 year, and his sister Kupriyanova uses a Mercedes that he provides for her use. Such rapid advancement together with expensive cars naturally raises the question of the real price of this career.

Dovhan has already been involved in a scandal at Odesa SIZO together with its head Nikitin — over the story of a detained TCC employee who was forced to humiliate himself before inmates and was extorted for 10 thousand dollars. After that, according to the information presented, the SIZO leadership collected 50 thousand dollars for the Ministry of Justice and Pikalov, and about 150 thousand more — for the prosecutor’s office, the State Bureau of Investigation, the police and the ombudsman. And despite this scandal, a person who has worked in the penitentiary system for only a few months may now lead Poltava SIZO. It turns out that for rapid career growth in the Ministry of Justice system experience is not needed — it is enough to have the right connections and find the money for the next appointment.

Minister of Justice Maslov came into the system not to root out Mindich’s back office, raider schemes and the sale of forensic examinations, but to earn and take as much from the system as possible. That is why he does not notice Kupriyanova’s schemes, and instead of fighting corruption he extends the contract of the needed director and resolves the career advancement of her brother. All according to the script of his predecessors — the “love duet” Halushchenko and Stefanishyn, who first built their schemes in power and then received NABU suspicions, bail and the chance to quietly relocate to Vienna. Now Maslov, it seems, has decided not to break the system but to use it to the fullest while he has access to the minister’s office.

Maslov’s path in the Ministry of Justice, it seems, began with “collecting tribute,” personally traveling to Kharkiv. Officially everything was presented as a visit to the Kharkiv Interregional Department of the Ministry of Justice, but in fact the minister went to the Bokarius Institute of Forensic Examinations, where Kupriyanova was already waiting for him — together with the question of extending her contract. And it is no coincidence that Haichenko came to Kharkiv with Maslov — the very person credited with especially close relations with Kupriyanova. Maslov personally went to Bokarius to congratulate Kupriyanova on the contract extension and to take his “share of the pie,” and this time the minister’s slice turned out to be especially fat: thanks to our work Kupriyanova’s contract was extended for a sum that, by our calculations, is many times higher than the usual level of such payments.

And now — what Maslov has to “not notice” for Kupriyanova’s sake

The disappearance of physical evidence and original contracts, 328 packs of cigarettes that disappeared from case materials, manipulations with dates of expert conclusions, a dubious story about obtaining and cancelling her forensic expert certificate, Bokarius Institute tenders with companies related to her relatives, and luxury Lexus, Mercedes and Land Rover vehicles. And on top of that — a corporate event in a state institution on 8 March with a performance by Volodymyr Karafetov for 5000 dollars and Russian-language songs. And after all this Kupriyanova receives the title “Scientist of the Year” and letters of appreciation for the development of science, and Maslov prepares to extend her contract.

We have already filed a dozen complaints and reports regarding the director’s illegal activities — Kupriyanova. Based on our materials, the Territorial Department of the SBI in Melitopol is conducting a pretrial investigation in criminal proceeding No.62026080100005262 under part 2 of article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In addition, by rulings of the Saltivskyi District Court of Kharkiv and the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv, the National Police of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv region were ordered to begin pretrial investigations, and here Haichenko’s and Maslov’s connections may not help Kupriyanova.

And here simple questions arise: why do law enforcement and authorities benefit from Kupriyanova’s corruption? How much did it cost to extend the contract of the director of the Bokarius Research Institute of Forensic Examinations? For how much can an ordinary policeman in the Ministry of Justice become deputy head of Odesa SIZO, and six months later — head of Poltava SIZO? And why do justice ministers leave their posts one after another with NABU suspicions?