The head of the Education Quality Service has found himself at the center of a plagiarism scandal

Ruslan Gurak, who has headed the agency responsible for overseeing the quality of education in Ukraine for over 10 years, has come under fire due to a series of allegations regarding his background and activities.

According to media reports, one of the most high-profile scandals involves possible plagiarism in his 2006 doctoral dissertation. 

The allegations involve significant uncredited borrowings from Russian academic sources. It was reported that portions of the text may have been translated and used without proper citations. It was also noted that a forensic analysis revealed signs of plagiarism, yet the case regarding the revocation of his academic degree was never heard.

Gurak himself has previously denied these allegations, claiming pressure and blackmail from anti-plagiarism activists.

Separately, the media have drawn attention to his political and professional connections, particularly his collaboration with prominent figures in the educational and political spheres. His work as an assistant to a member of parliament in the 2000s is also mentioned.

Furthermore, the reports raise questions about potential influence over inspections of educational institutions, sparking debates about the impartiality of education quality control.

In this context, the public is once again raising the question of whether the head of an agency tasked with ensuring academic integrity is fit for the position.

Anatoliy Melnychenko, rector of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI), is accused of academic plagiarism due to numerous passages borrowed from Russian academic sources without proper citation.