Natskinemateka assets returned under State ownership after NABU’s probe
On June 16, 2021, the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the first instance court, which invalidated the results of the auction for the sale of the assets of National Cinematheque of Ukraine SE (Natskinemateka). As a result, 14 buildings and facilities with total area of over 5 thousand sq.m. located across 8 hectares on the outskirts of Kyiv are to be returned to the State.
As established by the NABU Detectives, the assets were sold at an auction at a lower cost to a predetermined company. This happened due to a conspiracy between the officials of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Natskinemateka, and other persons.
The company, which was deprived of the opportunity to participate in the auction on legal grounds, filed a lawsuit to invalidate its results due to the violation of the rules of conduct.
NABU started an investigation as a third party. On February 15, 2021, the Commercial Court of Kyiv overturned the results of the auction for the sale of Natskinemateka’s assets.
On June 16, 2021, the appellate court upheld the decision of the first instance court. The decision came into force.