Valerii Kopiika elected rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

In brief

• Valerii Kopiika, head of the university's Academic Council, won the rector election at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
• He received 1,973 votes, or 51.74 per cent, in the vote held on 27 October.
• Turnout reached 81.3 per cent, with 3,105 of 3,823 eligible voters casting ballots.
• Former vice-rector Hanna Tolstanova placed second with 712 votes, or 18.62 per cent.

Kopiika wins outright in first round

Valerii Kopiika, chair of the university's Academic Council, has been elected rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. According to the results published on the university's website, he took 1,973 votes, or 51.74 per cent, which was enough to win without a runoff (Валерій Копійка став ректором КНУ імені Шевченка – Suspilne) (Новим ректором КНУ імені Тараса Шевченка став Валерій Копійка – hromadske.ua).

Turnout and results of the vote

Of the 3,823 members of the university community entitled to vote, 3,105 took part, a turnout of 81.3 per cent. The second-place candidate, former vice-rector for research Hanna Tolstanova, received 712 votes, or 18.62 per cent. Former vice-rector for international cooperation Kseniia Smyrnova got 159 votes, or 4.16 per cent. Oleksandr Korchenko received 77 votes.

Campaign and polling arrangements

Before the vote, the candidates presented their development plans for the university and met with staff from faculties and research institutes, as well as answering questions from employees and students. Polling took place on 27 October across 25 polling stations set up in university buildings, all of which operated in shelters.

Background on the new rector

Before the election, Kopiika led the Institute of International Relations, which is part of the university. The results are the outcome of the university's own internal ballot and will be followed by the formal appointment process.