Everyone for himself: an approach to cultural management based on the example of the Chernihiv Historical Museum

[ad_1]

The Chernihiv Historical Museum named after Vasyl Tarnovsky may finally lose its already former director. Serhii Laevskyi together with his colleagues actually saved the museum during the occupation of Chernihiv Oblast in March 2022. He stayed to live in his museum in Chernihiv, besieged by the occupiers, in order to preserve the collection (more than 60,000 items) and support the team. The basement of the museum also became a shelter for residents from neighboring buildings. Museum staff organized supporting historical lectures for them. Immediately after the de-occupation of Chernihiv region, the museum returned to its work, in particular, continued the restoration of historical objects.

In October 2023, the Department of Culture of Chernihiv formally dismissed Laevsky due to the end of the contract. He was not offered to remain in charge of the institution as an acting manager. Formally – due to accusations of corruption. Although the court officially dropped these charges against Laevsky.

Serhiy Laevsky has been the head of the Chernihiv Historical Museum since 1999. UP. Life makes his story public.

On October 1, 2023, I was dismissed from the position of museum director. Officially due to the expiration of the contract. But at the same time, several fellow directors from Chernihiv, whose contracts also expired, remained to continue to perform the duties of managers. Then why?

On September 29, 2023, I published a post on Facebook in which I announced my dismissal and expressed my gratitude to the museum staff, colleagues with whom I had the opportunity to work, and my family, who have been and remain by my side all this time. I am grateful to everyone who responded to this post, because it is a great honor for me to know your assessment of my work. And today I feel obliged not only to thank you, but also to explain what happened. Although, do I know about everything? Hardly.

In her comments to Suspilno on October 2, 2023, representing the acting director of the museum staff, the director of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Nationalities and Religions of the Regional State Administration, Ms. Lyudmila Zamai, noted:

“There are no issues with Laevsky either in the governing bodies or in the regional state administration. He is a professional person, without a doubt, with experience and a decent level. But the circumstances are such that his contract is expiring, and we simply cannot legally extend it , because there is Article 21 of the “Law on Culture”. And there it is stated that a person who, for a certain period of time, has been involved in corruption-related responsibility cannot be appointed as the director of an institution. There is a decision of the first instance of the relevant direction, and we simply had to do so.”

Thus, she accused me of corruption directly from her lips. It alludes to the fact that the Director of the Department, despite the obligatory knowledge of the Constitution of Ukraine and the Laws, does not realize what the presumption of innocence is.

Read also: Scandal in TYUG. Or why metropolitan theaters need open competitions

And now in order

My wife has been working at the museum since 2001. I have repeatedly mentioned this and I am proud that she, as a specialist, contributes to the normal functioning of our institution. Moreover, I was always pleased when I heard how she helps other accountants in solving problems with the direction for which she is responsible. Like all employees of the museum, she received bonuses and allowances (when there was such an opportunity), and I, as an authorized manager, signed the relevant orders based on requests.

After the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Prevention of Corruption”, as a law-abiding citizen, I officially informed the Department about the existence of a potential conflict of interest. And then he reported again, again, again… The Department has a tradition of losing documents. Everything is lost and lost there. Then

In dealing with the Department in this matter, I determined the procedure myself, as the Department failed to determine it. I sent them appeals with copies of petitions and draft orders, and I received certificates that executors from the department drew up at their discretion. Or verbally reported.

However, in September 2022, instead of a certificate, the Department informed me that I had to resolve the conflict of interest on my own. In ordinary language, this means to be released (because the conflict is mine, not my wife’s). On my willingness to write a statement and draw up a power of attorney, I was refused and listened to many assurances of support. The non-submission of the certificate was explained by verbal recommendations of the regional state administration, as if such certificates were illegal. That is, the Department has no complaints about my actions and decisions, but a verbal recommendation is more important than the Law.

After the inspection conducted by the investigative Department of Strategic Investigations in the Chernihiv region, I was charged with an administrative offense for paying wages to “my wife”, without even mentioning that other employees also received them. And what about the Department? The department said: “every man for himself.”

The materials were sent to the court, in which I, for some reason, had to prove my innocence. Even the judge, interviewing the director of the Department, said that “you framed your museum director.” I lost this case on July 14, 2023. But unlike the Bastille, I didn’t fall.

In the time allowed by law, my lawyer filed an appeal. That is, at the time of “consideration of the issue of contract extension” I was not “brought to justice related to corruption” and the appeal to Article 21, which the director of the Department clearly does not know, is inappropriate. Article 21 of the Law of Ukraine “On Culture” specifies that “Heads of state and communal cultural institutions are appointed to the position by concluding a five-year contract with them based on the results of the competition.” But no competition was announced.

But Article 211 states that “A person may not be appointed to the position of head of a state or communal cultural institution, … on whom an administrative fine was imposed during the last year for committing an offense related to corruption.” But at the time the director of the Department made this decision, no administrative penalty was imposed on me.

On October 10, 2023, the Chernihiv Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the Desnyansky District Court of Chernihiv and closed the case against me due to the absence of criminal offenses in my actions.

Epilogue

I continue to work in my native museum as a deputy director.

I believe that I deserve a simple apology from the director of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Nationalities and Religions of the Regional State Administration for this slander. Although I have long doubted that this Department has any idea what culture is. I am aware that after this text, the position I hold may be reduced.

Serhiy Laevskyi, deputy director of the Chernihiv Historical Museum, specially for UP. Life.

Publications in the “View” section are not editorial articles and reflect exclusively the author’s point of view.

[ad_2]

Original Source Link