The Ministry of Sports is trying to stop the election of the rector of the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
A major scandal erupted today, March 25, at the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine (NUPESU) over the election of the institution’s new head.
Despite an official order from the relevant ministry to postpone the vote until September, the university community decided not to interrupt the election process.
The conflict became public after the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine suddenly changed the election date from March 25 to September 23, 2026.
Acting Rector Oleksandr Pyzhov reported direct pressure from the ministry’s leadership on the eve of the vote.
According to the university head, on March 24, he was summoned to the minister’s office for a closed-door meeting.
“In the morning, Minister Bidnyi summoned me and demanded that I write a letter of resignation. I refused. The minister simply declared the order assigning me the duties of rector to be null and void,” said Oleksandr Pyzhov.
The relevant ministry explains this sudden change of plans by the need to investigate numerous complaints regarding possible abuses.
Officials claim that alarming information has emerged in the media regarding unlawful activities by individuals directly involved in organizing the elections.
Representatives of the ministry emphasize that the postponement is a necessary step to uphold the principles of transparency and fair competition.
In their view, today’s actions on campus lack legal grounds: “There is an order to postpone the elections, so today’s actions are already unlawful.”
As a reminder, a co-owner of “Nova Poshta” proposed abolishing the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Additionally, more than 30 sports ministers have spoken out against restoring Russia’s membership in the IOC.
