that he had presented a free apartment to Ruslana, the popular Ukrainian singer who won the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, to great international acclaim.
I hope I’m not the only one who thinks this is a bit crazy. Don’t get me wrong: I like Ruslana as much as anyone. Like Mr. Omelchenko and millions of Ukrainians, I was proud of Ruslana’s performance in Istanbul, and fully understand that she did much to boost Ukraine’s image throughout Europe.
But did he have to buy her an apartment? Most guys don’t even buy their ex-wives or new girlfriends an apartment.
According to national statistics, the average salary in Kyiv is Hr 1,000 per month, taxed at a 42 percent rate. According to recent ads, a new two-room apartment in Kyiv costs about Hr 420,000. Which basically means that 1,000 Kyivans donated a month’s labor to ensure that Ruslana has a great place to sleep.
How many of these workers are at least going to be invited over for tea?
Idon’t mean to single out Ruslana, since she’s far from alone. Over the past several years, sporting champions and stars Yana Klochkova, Liliya Podkopayeva, Andry Shevchenko and the Klitschko brothers were given apartments and some property.
For instance, Andry Shevchenko got a big piece of land in the center of the capital, where, according to Omelchenko, he is going to build a supermarket.
But is it possible to imagine that Ruslana can’t buy her own two-room apartment in Kyiv? Or that the rich, titled boxer-brothers can’t acquire land in the center of Kyiv at market prices? (A session of the Kyiv city council set the price of the land on Khmelnytskoho at lower than market prices, according to real estate experts.)
I tried to call the City Administration to ask who gets chosen for free apartments, but got no answer. At the City Administration main housing department I was told that the decision to provide celebrities with free apartments or lands is made by the city council, but the office declined to comment about the criteria according to which the decision is made.
I could go on about privileges, but I hope the message is clear. Let’s all support these Ukrainian heroes, cheer for them and wish them the best. But, Mr. Omelchenko, do we really need to spend our tax money to buy Ruslana a place to live? And if you’re going spend my tax money on Ruslana’s apartment, could you at least ensure that she invites me over sometime soon for a drink?
