Missing furniture, alcohol, and a suspected call center: FPU returns to the Trade Union House on Maidan

The leadership of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU), together with representatives of the National Agency of Ukraine for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA), entered the Trade Union House on Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv. Following an inspection, a property transfer act will be signed between the parties, after which the FPU will begin using the premises, reports a correspondent for UNN.

Who managed the Trade Union House

By court decision, the Trade Union House was transferred to ARMA management. This asset was under seizure in 2022 and 2023 as part of a case involving the misappropriation of state property. In 2025, the seizure was lifted; however, on June 3, 2025, the Pechersk District Court re-imposed a seizure on the facility.

The Agency concluded a management agreement with the winner of an open competition – the consortium "Management Company 'KAMparitet'."

According to a journalistic investigation, the consortium includes a company that may be linked to one of the asset's previous beneficiaries. The publication also mentioned the name of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration - Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna in the context of past family ties. She categorically denied any involvement in the possible scheme. After the scandal broke, MPs demanded the resignation of the then-head of ARMA, Olena Duma.

An audit conducted by ARMA from August 20 to September 5, 2025, recorded violations of certain terms of the asset management agreement. 

On May 13, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv partially lifted the seizure of the Trade Union House on Maidan Nezalezhnosti and canceled its transfer to ARMA; thus, the judges allowed the Federation of Trade Unions to use the property.

As Bohdan Koval, Deputy Director of the Legal Support Department of ARMA, told UNN, the agreement with the previous manager, namely the company "KAMparitet," automatically terminated after the investigating judge's decision in the criminal proceedings entered into force.

In fact, the contractual relations have already been terminated as a result of the investigating judge canceling the seizure order regarding the prohibition of use, and canceling the order to transfer (the Trade Union House – ed.) to ARMA. This results in the return of the asset to the use of the legal owner - namely the Federation of Trade Unions

According to him, an inspection of the premises takes place before the signing of the property transfer act from the manager to the owner. After this, the FPU can use the Trade Union House without the right of alienation.

Attempts to block entry and a suspected call center

On Thursday, May 28, the leadership of the FPU, along with members of the trade union movement and ARMA representatives, arrived to inspect the Trade Union House for its subsequent return to the disposal of the FPU.

They were unable to enter the premises immediately, as security locked the building from the inside and called the police. Meanwhile, the police officers who arrived at the scene refused to provide any comments.

While representatives of the trade union movement and ARMA were figuring out how to enter the building, young men were leaving through the back exit. The FPU suspects that an illegal call center, which could have been involved in financial fraud, was likely operating on one of the floors of the Trade Union House of Ukraine.

We suspect there was a call center here. Our veterans saw young men quietly running out from the seventh floor. We understand that such crimes could have taken place here. We will investigate these matters and will definitely inform law enforcement agencies

After a short wait, representatives of the FPU and ARMA finally entered the Trade Union House and began inspecting the premises.

Missing furniture and alcohol bottles

During the inspection of the premises, it turned out that some equipment and expensive furniture had disappeared, and the previous managers had not treated what remained with much care.

In particular, a large round table, expensive chairs, and equipment, including monitors, disappeared from the conference hall. In their place, ordinary tables and chairs have been installed.

There used to be expensive chairs here, a round oval table, the hall was equipped with lighting fixtures, not like now. Monitors, TVs, and so on. It was used for various events. Now none of this is here; they have taken everything out

We inspected the building and saw that our furniture is ruined. We see that in the offices where the welfare of Ukrainian workers was previously decided, there were simply banal drinking sessions

In the offices of the FPU leadership, representatives of the Federation and ARMA found half-empty bottles of alcohol and damaged furniture.

We found alcohol bottles, we see scratched tables, we see that the very spirit of the trade union movement here has been desecrated. We will definitely appeal to His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius, absolutely, so that a priest can come here; the premises will definitely need to be consecrated

According to him, lawyers will study the issue of the possibility of compensation for damages caused by the management company.

Serhiy Byzov also said that 200 awards disappeared from his office as head of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine, Athletes, and Sector Workers, which he headed at the time the Trade Union House was seized. He had planned to present the awards to the families of fallen soldiers but did not have time before the FPU was evicted from the premises. His personal belongings and commemorative awards also disappeared.

The management company is to blame here because they put all this somewhere. But we will look for it, we are sure we will find it

In general, according to the head of the FPU, after moving in, representatives of the Federation will conduct a more detailed inspection of all property.

What will happen to the tenants of the Trade Union House

It is worth noting that at the time the FPU and ARMA representatives entered the Trade Union House, the offices occupied by private companies were empty and contained no personal belongings. Some were carrying out the last bags while moving out of the premises.

According to the head of the FPU, the Federation's property department will provide the necessary access to those tenants who did not have time to collect their belongings.

We will definitely give all tenants full access to documentation and their offices. And within the framework of current legislation, we will maintain a dialogue with them

The Trade Union House is an administrative building that formerly housed the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine. During the Revolution of Dignity, it served as the Headquarters of National Resistance. The building almost completely burned down in February 2014. It was restored by a private investor between 2016 and 2018.