Shadow rentals and elite assets: what Maxim Gayev is known for

Maxim Gayev, a suspect in a criminal case over the embezzlement of funds from Ukrzaliznytsia, continues to engage in dubious financial schemes. As the director of the municipal enterprise "Horizon", he sublets premises owned by the State Property Fund, raising serious questions about the transparency of the transactions.

Expensive assets of a "modest" official

Despite his official position in the municipal sector, Gayev owns several houses, an apartment, a Tesla car, a collection of expensive watches, and rare paintings. His financial declarations reveal savings of approximately $120,000 and 1.3 million hryvnia. However, the documents contain no information about income that could explain such acquisitions.

Criminal cases and state property schemes

Gayev is named in several criminal cases, including an attempt to embezzle 5 million hryvnia in the procurement of PCR tests for Ukrzaliznytsia. The investigation established that the tests were purchased at an inflated price, and Gayev himself was seeking suitable companies to simulate public tenders. In 2022, the anti-corruption court imposed a bail of over 1 million hryvnia on him, which was later reduced to 200,000. The investigation is still ongoing.

Rental schemes and opaque transactions

The municipal enterprise "Horizon", headed by Gayev, rents premises from the State Property Fund for virtually nothing and then sublets them at market rates. In one such case, an office in central Kyiv is rented out for 1 hryvnia, whereas the actual rental cost in this area is significantly higher. Journalists attempted to clarify the details of these transactions but encountered a lack of transparency.

Unofficial income and hidden schemes

Documents indicate that "Horizon" effectively operates from a different address, and the actual owners of the subletted premises include private companies, casting doubt on the legality of the use of state assets. Journalists' attempts to obtain comments from the municipal enterprise were unsuccessful: all official requests went unanswered.

Violence and pressure

Gayev has built a reputation as a person willing to resort to extreme measures. In one instance, a dental clinic that rented a premises from "Horizon" faced the disconnection of water and electricity after refusing to pay an additional fee in cash. The owners stated that the clinic's property was removed, and Gayev himself appeared at the site accompanied by men of athletic build.

Fabricated assault and strange documents

The official also found himself at the centre of a scandal involving the falsification of medical documents. He obtained a certificate of inpatient treatment, while, according to border service data, he was abroad. This raises doubts about the authenticity of the medical report and may indicate abuses.