Mezhyhirya Residence

This article is about the museum that was the former official residence of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. For a monastery that existed in its place, see Mezhyhirya Monastery.
Mezhyhiria
Межигір'я
Museum
Major landmark: "Honka" club house
Major landmark: "Honka" club house
Etymology: Saint Transfiguration Monastery
Nickname: 
Yanukdisneyland
Location of Mezhyhirya
Location of Mezhyhirya
Coordinates: 50°36′53″N 30°28′27″E / 50.61472°N 30.47417°E / 50.61472; 30.47417
CountryUkraine
RegionKyiv Oblast
DistrictVyshhorod Raion
MunicipalityNovi Petrivtsi
Founded1935; 89 years ago (1935)

The Mezhyhirya Residence (Ukrainian: Межигір'я, romanized: Mezhyhiria, pronounced [meʒɪˈɦirjɐ]) is an estate in Ukraine where Viktor Yanukovych lived when he was Prime Minister and then President of Ukraine and is now a museum displaying Yanukovych's luxurious lifestyle.[1][2] Yanukovych lived in the estate from 2002, when he first became Prime Minister, to 21 February 2014, when he fled the country during the Revolution of Dignity.[3][4]

The estate was founded as a monastery that functioned off-and-on until closed in 1923 by the Bolsheviks following the establishment of the Soviet Union. From 1935 Mezhyhirya was a state government residence, first under the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and then under an independent Ukraine, until 2007 when it was privatized in the final weeks of Yanukovych’s leadership as Prime Minister. This privatization has been alleged as having been illegal, with no money being reported as being paid to the state for its sale.[5] In 2012, the State Administration of Affairs rented a space from Tantalit for ₴99,691 per year, arranging it for official receptions.[6][7][8] In 2014, it returned to state ownership.

In 2010, Yanukovych claimed the lease of 1 ha (2.5 acres) in Mezhyhirya cost ₴314 per month (2010)[9] which was about $39.57 according to the exchange rate at the time.[10]

Another luxurious residence was under construction near Cape Aya in Crimea at the time Yanukovych was ousted from office.[11] The residence was popularly known as “Mezhyhirya 2”.[12]

  1. ^ Ukraine: Former President Viktor Yanukovych's Palatial Residence in Mezhyhirya Opens as Museum, International Business Times (November 17, 2014)
  2. ^ (in Ukrainian) Янукович заявляет, что он – законный владелец резиденции «Межгорье» Yanukovych said that he – the rightful owner of the residence Mezhyhirya, UNIAN (7 August 2009)
  3. ^ Leshchenko, S. Life of the state elite: freebie apartment for Viktor Yanukovych. Ukrayinska Pravda. December 29, 2009
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ukraine Leader Was Defeated Even Before He Was Ousted was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Yanukovych, the luxury residence and the money trail that leads to London". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  6. ^ Yanukovych will forget way to work? For him was built an office in Mezhyhirya. Ukrayinska Pravda. February 26, 2012
  7. ^ For office in Mezhyhirya Yanukovych will pay from the Budget 100 thousand per year to its own company. Ukrayinska Pravda. March 2, 2012
  8. ^ Leshchenko, S. Viktor Yanukovych: We building new country. Within Mezhyhirya. Ukrayinska Pravda. April 7, 2010. Accessed February 15, 2014
  9. ^ "Yanukovych rents Mezhyhirya residence for 3 hryvnia per are". TSN. June 3, 2010.
  10. ^ "US Dollar to Ukraine Hryvnia (USD UAH) for 6 June 2010 (06/06/2010)". Exchange Rates UK.
  11. ^ "В Крыму открыли доступ к мысу Айя, где строили Межигорье-2 - "УДАР"".
  12. ^ "Yanukovych used network of UK shell companies to hide private empire". www.intellinews.com. 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2022-10-29.