Firm on trial for embezzlement awarded contract by education department

A company accused of embezzlement is set to supply meat to schools in Kropyvnytskyi at inflated prices.

The Kropyvnytskyi Department of Education has signed a contract with the company "Opttorg-K" for the supply of meat to local schools worth 20.6 million hryvnia. Meat prices under the agreement are significantly higher than in other regions of Ukraine. For instance, pork will be supplied at 198 hryvnia per kilogram, whereas in Uzhhorod this product was purchased at 173 hryvnia per kilogram, and turkey meat will cost schools 275 hryvnia per kilogram.

The company "Opttorg-K" is owned by Andriy Protsenko, who is linked to the family of Kropyvnytskyi City Council deputy Andriy Tabalov. Last year, the prosecution service accused the company of supplying spread instead of butter to schools, and a case against Protsenko is currently being heard in court.