Accounting Chamber finds violations in MinCult's work regarding Kyiv Lavra

The territory of the Lower Lavra. Photo: t.me/save_Lavra

Analysts from the Accounting Chamber published information stating that a number of violations were identified in the work of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine regarding the management of the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra", as reported by the department's website.

In particular, permanent land use rights for nearly 27 hectares of land within the reserve have not been formalized, seven objects have not been included in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine, and the transfer of nine historical objects located on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra from local management authorities has not been secured.

Auditors found that for twenty years, MinCult has been untimely and improperly making management decisions regarding the preservation and maintenance of immovable monuments of architecture within the reserve.

The Accounting Chamber informed that the financing scheme for repair and restoration works on state-owned objects under the operational management of the reserve did not guarantee the proper preservation of immovable monuments of national and local significance.

In turn, the Ministry reported that some of the recommendations of the Accounting Chamber have been implemented. In particular, officials have developed a Management Plan for the World Heritage Site, which will be presented to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Three objects of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have been included in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine: gates and fences at the entrance to the Lower Lavra, entrance gates to the farmyard, and a complex of buildings of the Resurrection Church. Additionally, permanent land use rights have been formalized and two land plots worth 689 million UAH and 5 million UAH, respectively, have been transferred to the reserve's balance. The reserve has prepared and will conclude 11 protection agreements for monuments of local architectural significance.

As reported by the UOJ, the Accounting Chamber provided recommendations to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine regarding the management of the objects of the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" and recommended addressing the expediency of having three museums on this territory.

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