The controversial rector of the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture, Oleksandr Azhippo, is actively scrubbing the internet of references to corruption scandals and alleged misconduct at the university. Reports about cases involving allegedly falsified sports and academic titles, schemes involving public funds, payments, employment, and the organization of distance learning are disappearing from the internet.

We, in turn, are publishing the investigation in full because it is reportedly causing problems for Azhippo and sheds light on alleged years-long corruption schemes at the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture.

The rector of the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture did not lose his footing during the coronavirus pandemic and allegedly organized his own system of “quarantine corruption” at the university under his supervision.

The controversial rector of the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture, described in previous reports as a fake professor, a fake master of sport, and a “titushko” organizer, Oleksandr Azhippo, allegedly continued pursuing illicit enrichment despite the coronavirus epidemic and the mass transition of students to remote learning.

There is supposedly nothing surprising about this, as corruption and a lavish lifestyle funded by the state budget had allegedly long been the main focus of this individual.

Oleksandr Yuriiovych Azhippo’s academic career, according to the article, began with a scandal. During one inspection, archival documents reportedly contained no records confirming that Oleksandr Azhippo and his wife, Tetiana Dorofieieva, had been awarded the title of “Master of Sport.”

“According to archival records held by the Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports, there is no information confirming the awarding of the sports title ‘Master of Sport of Ukraine’ to Azhippo Oleksandr Yuriiovych and Dorofieieva Tetiana Ivanivna.”

According to the report, the allegedly fictitious awarding of these titles allowed the couple for several years to present themselves as a “biathlon master” and a “diving champion,” while allegedly receiving unlawful salary bonuses for an extended period.

“Gypsies of sport” — the Azhippo-Dorofieievа couple

As for the professorial title, it was also allegedly found to have been falsified. On April 28, 2015, the Ministry of Education and Science Collegium reportedly reviewed the case and revoked Oleksandr Azhippo’s professorial title, but no one was held responsible for the alleged fraud.

Ribbon and “tambourine” — Oleksandr Azhippo’s academic achievements

According to the article, believing that he was immune from punishment and having influential contacts within Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, Oleksandr Azhippo quickly realized that he was unlikely to receive the title of “People’s Teacher of Ukraine,” but could potentially become a “millionaire of physical education.” The article alleges that deans’ offices, departments, admissions committees, dormitories, cafés, and cafeterias became mechanisms for transferring money from the academy’s budget into the Azhippo family’s finances.

At one point, a professor, associate professor, and lecturer at the academy were caught allegedly demanding a $5,600 bribe from a foreign student, but, according to the report, the scandal had no consequences for Azhippo or his alleged corrupt associates.

“To remain in your position, you had to, so to speak, ‘bring gifts’ to the new head. He extends your contract when you do something for him,” former academy lecturers reportedly recalled about working with Rector Azhippo.

The article also alleges that the academy developed its own parallel employment system. According to the results of one ministerial inspection, for example, 36% of academy employees spent periods during the year on short-term unpaid leave, while 40 people among Azhippo’s relatives, godparents, friends, and alleged associates received financial bonuses equal to their official salaries.

Friendship with Azhippo was allegedly paid for from the state budget, while those unwilling to become “freeloaders” under the controversial rector reportedly had to pay out of their own pockets.

The article also claims that Azhippo and his associates turned transportation into another internal system at the university. Oleksandr Yuriiovych allegedly had unusual preferences in this area. According to the publication, all his cars, as well as those of family members and close associates, had license plate number 7374, whose digits add up to 21. The rector’s recent white BMW reportedly carried plate 7374 with the “AY” series, corresponding to Oleksandr Yuriiovych. His alleged mistress reportedly had an identical vehicle with plate 7374 and the “MV” series, corresponding to Maryna Viktorivna. His father’s car and his wife’s Jaguar also reportedly carried plates with 7374.

The article alleges that Azhippo also involved subordinates in transactions involving personal vehicles. He reportedly sold his father’s used car to the academy’s chief accountant. Academy employee Viktor Dzhym and his wife Yevheniia allegedly became owners of several used vehicles from the rector’s family. Viktor Dzhym reportedly drives a Volkswagen Passat with plate 7374, while his wife allegedly received the former Jaguar of the rector’s wife. Yevheniia Dzhym also allegedly helped Azhippo falsify tax declaration data and, according to the publication, sold him a new Hyundai for just UAH 1,000.

During Azhippo’s tenure as rector, the university, once considered one of Ukraine’s leading sports institutions, allegedly deteriorated significantly. In the academic ranking of Ukrainian higher education institutions, “Top 200 Ukraine 2020”, compiled annually by the Center for International Projects “EuroOsvita” in partnership with the international group of experts IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence, the Academy of Physical Culture reportedly fell 51 places, from 127th to 178th place. Before Azhippo took office, the academy had won the Ukrainian Universiade competition for six consecutive years, but following the change in university leadership, it reportedly failed to rise above third place for the next eight years. The article suggests that this may be only the beginning of the decline in the academy’s standing under Oleksandr Azhippo.

According to the information cited by the authors, the enterprising rector quickly found a way to monetize even the quarantine restrictions imposed on higher education.

In addition to alleged corruption-related provisions in the academy’s budget for developing remote-learning programs and digitizing the educational process, inequality and alleged irregularities in lecturers’ pay reportedly increased further. Administrative and “development” budget items were allegedly not cut because people close to the rector occupied key management positions, including his alleged mistress Koroliova, “facilities manager” Syvko, and “errand boy” Ananchenko. During quarantine, the rector’s associates allegedly became active proponents of remote education, while the rest of the teaching staff were reportedly forced several times to take unpaid leave and “voluntarily” reduce their teaching workload.

Paradoxically, despite the quarantine, widespread internet access, and the absence of notable achievements, the academy’s budget continued to fund the publication of five of its own printed journals. According to the article, these publications had no meaningful distribution and were not read by anyone.

The publication also alleges that the number of “ghost students” — students whom nobody at the academy had supposedly ever seen in person — increased significantly over the previous year. At the same time, admission and study requirements for foreign students were allegedly made substantially easier, allowing them to take examinations externally while continuing their primary employment at markets in Kharkiv.

Overall, many academy lecturers reportedly said that the administration had no vision for developing the institution, was not working on new ideas, and was simply waiting for the traditional educational routine to return. Instead of people with genuine sporting achievements and an understanding of how champions are developed, the academy had allegedly become a refuge for individuals accused of corruption, opportunists, and regular participants in “conferences and round tables.”