Ex-minister Pyvovarskyi was recognized as an accused in the case regarding port fees
25.07.2024 - 15:10
Former Minister of Infrastructure Andrii Pyvovarskyi was found guilty in the case regarding port fees.
An indictment against Pyvovarskyi and his former first deputy Volodymyr Shulmeister was sent to the court, reports Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office
The ex-minister himself commented on the decision of the departments. In particular, Pyvovarskyi noted that, according to the prosecution, SE “USPA” is the injured party in the case, but the latter did not file a civil lawsuit against the ex-minister and his deputy. Also, there is no information in the case file about whether the state enterprise itself recognizes itself as the injured party.
Pyvovarskyi added that now he will have to prove in court that he did not violate the law by signing the decision of the collegial body (Cabinet), which was approved by the entire vertical of the executive power and was adjusted by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.
Background of the story
It will be recalled that in February NABU and Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office informed the ex-minister of infrastructure Andrii Pivovarskyi about suspected abuses, due to which the state allegedly suffered losses of more than $30 million. The former official commented on the situation.
According to the investigation, in July 2015, the then minister together with his deputy (at that time also the head of the Tariff Council of the Ministry of Infrastructure) ensured the adoption of an order, according to which the shipping tax from ships in the seaport “Pivdenniy” together with the state-owned enterprise “USPA” began to be collected and private company (50/50). Whereas, according to the law, the collection of such a fee is the exclusive prerogative of a state-owned enterprise as a user of the water area of the port, which belongs to the state, the NABU Telegram channel reported.
The investigation established that the order was passed without proper economic reasoning and contrary to the comments of the Department of Economy and Finance of the Ministry of Infrastructure and State Enterprise “USPA”.
On April 4, the former First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Volodymyr Shulmeister, was given a precautionary measure in the form of bail in the amount of UAH 4 million.
The suspect was also charged with:
• arrive at the first request to the detective, the prosecutor and the court;
• notify the detective, prosecutor or the court about a change of place of residence and work, travel abroad;
• refrain from communicating with other suspects in the case and witnesses.
On May 15, the preventive measure was extended for ex-minister Pyvovarskyi. He, like Schulmeister, must appear at the request of the investigator, the prosecutor and the court, report on a change of residence and work, etc.
“We have confirmation that there is still no civil lawsuit against me for compensation of damages to the injured party. Because there is no injured party. Because there are no losses. Because if there were, then there would be an injured party. However, on February 27, 2023, the assets were seized to compensate the injured party. It turns out that something in the case did not go as the prosecution wanted from the very beginning. The master plan is broken. Therefore, the investigation was continued for six months after the suspicion was served. They will carry a different plan,” commented Andrii Pyvovarskyi on Facebook.
