You're reading: Franko’s granddaughter runs into debt for apartment

The granddaughter of the late 19th century famous writer Ivan Franko has run into a large debt to the Kyiv municipal authorities. Living in the six-room flat in the center of Kyiv, 84-year-old Daryna Franko owes more than Hr 32,000 for utility services.

On Sept. 20, the head of the Kyiv City Administration Oleksandr Popov said the city would cover most of the expenses, his press service reported. “I asked one of the charity funds in Kyiv and in the nearest future her debts will be covered. After that, she’ll get a subsidy from the city and will be required to pay no more than 10 percent for utilities each month,” said Popov.

He also instructed the social services to make sure Franko has medical care and enough food.

The famous granddaughter lives on her own in the flat next to the opera house, which her family received in the 1950s in compensation for Ivan Franko’s house in Lviv, which was turned into a museum. One of Franko’s many grandchildren (the writer had four children), Daryna Franko has reputedly never married, never had children and has been living the life of a recluse, according to her friend, Anna Tarasiuk. She worked in the publishing house as a proofreader.

The market value of the six-room flat near the opera, where Franko now lives, in Kyiv could be as much as $2.5 million, according to real estate brokers.