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Top Ukrainian museum boss explains refusal to return home | |
(about 16 hours later) | |
Fyodor Androshchuk, director of the National Museum of History, was expected back from a business trip to Sweden by September 20 | Fyodor Androshchuk, director of the National Museum of History, was expected back from a business trip to Sweden by September 20 |
The Director of Ukraine’s National Museum of History, Fyodor Androshchuk, who went missing during a work trip to the EU, has said he is a Swedish citizen who, in fact, was on a business trip to Ukraine, according to local media. | |
In an interview with Ukrainskaya Pravda published on Thursday, Androshchuk claimed he had submitted his resignation three months ago. | In an interview with Ukrainskaya Pravda published on Thursday, Androshchuk claimed he had submitted his resignation three months ago. |
Verkhovna Rada deputy Solomiya Bobrovska wrote on Facebook this week that Androshchuk, who went on a business trip abroad, had not returned as expected by September 20. | Verkhovna Rada deputy Solomiya Bobrovska wrote on Facebook this week that Androshchuk, who went on a business trip abroad, had not returned as expected by September 20. |
”Apparently, he used his other citizenships for their intended purpose (why he has them at all is another question), went on a business trip to Italy and Sweden, and, according to the response to my parliamentary appeal, ‘got lost’ at the opening of an exhibition in Lithuania,” Bobrovska posted. | ”Apparently, he used his other citizenships for their intended purpose (why he has them at all is another question), went on a business trip to Italy and Sweden, and, according to the response to my parliamentary appeal, ‘got lost’ at the opening of an exhibition in Lithuania,” Bobrovska posted. |
She further appealed to the country’s Minister of Culture Nikolay Tochitsky and asked him to take immediate decisions regarding the missing museum chief. | She further appealed to the country’s Minister of Culture Nikolay Tochitsky and asked him to take immediate decisions regarding the missing museum chief. |
Reacting to the accusations, the Kiev-born Androshchuk claimed that his stay in Ukraine was temporary and subject to a contract with the ministry, which in turn was notified about his Swedish citizenship and, he claims, knew that “my home was there.” | Reacting to the accusations, the Kiev-born Androshchuk claimed that his stay in Ukraine was temporary and subject to a contract with the ministry, which in turn was notified about his Swedish citizenship and, he claims, knew that “my home was there.” |
“Therefore, in fact, I am not in Sweden on a business trip, but in Ukraine. I live permanently in Sweden, not in Ukraine,” he explained. | “Therefore, in fact, I am not in Sweden on a business trip, but in Ukraine. I live permanently in Sweden, not in Ukraine,” he explained. |
According to Androshchuk, his work at the museum was a “humanitarian aid” to Ukraine. “The fact that [the museum] works during the war, also earns money for the state and became famous in the world is thanks to my Swedish citizenship and my name, not Ukrainian,” he emphasized. | According to Androshchuk, his work at the museum was a “humanitarian aid” to Ukraine. “The fact that [the museum] works during the war, also earns money for the state and became famous in the world is thanks to my Swedish citizenship and my name, not Ukrainian,” he emphasized. |
54-year-old Androshchuk is not the first Ukrainian to go on a work trip abroad and fail to return to the country. In March, Ukrainian ballet dancers, including two men of conscription age, disappeared during a tour of Finland, their theatre company reported at the time. | 54-year-old Androshchuk is not the first Ukrainian to go on a work trip abroad and fail to return to the country. In March, Ukrainian ballet dancers, including two men of conscription age, disappeared during a tour of Finland, their theatre company reported at the time. |
In another such case, a popular Ukrainian TV host Aleksey Pechiy decided not to return home last December after a trip to Brussels, where he was covering an EU summit. He said it was a “difficult decision” to stay in the EU to promote “Ukraine’s agenda” in the media. | In another such case, a popular Ukrainian TV host Aleksey Pechiy decided not to return home last December after a trip to Brussels, where he was covering an EU summit. He said it was a “difficult decision” to stay in the EU to promote “Ukraine’s agenda” in the media. |
Kiev declared a general mobilization in February 2022, barring most men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Recruitment has been marred by widespread bribery and draft-dodging, with some Ukrainians trying to flee the country at all costs, even at a serious risk to their lives. Social media is filled with videos of military patrols trying to catch eligible men in the streets, shopping malls, and gyms, often resulting in clashes. | Kiev declared a general mobilization in February 2022, barring most men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Recruitment has been marred by widespread bribery and draft-dodging, with some Ukrainians trying to flee the country at all costs, even at a serious risk to their lives. Social media is filled with videos of military patrols trying to catch eligible men in the streets, shopping malls, and gyms, often resulting in clashes. |
This spring, faced with manpower shortage at the front, Kiev lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 and significantly tightened mobilization rules. | This spring, faced with manpower shortage at the front, Kiev lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 and significantly tightened mobilization rules. |
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