The most offensive aspect of our country's leadership's personnel policy isn't even the trading of positions (we've gotten used to that since Yanukovych's time), but the reverse selection. An example is the affluent academic Melnychuk, who replaced the "Marquis" Shandra at the Kyiv Regional State Administration (we wrote about him here: https://ord-ua.com/2016/01/05/vladeniya-markiza-karabasa-shandryi-ili-pochemu-dlya-atoshnikov-net-ni-pyadi-zemli-pod-kievom/).
Even before the appointment of the hapless genius from the National Bureau of Law Enforcement and Institutions, President Poroshenko was criticized for the need for competitive selection for high-ranking officials. And now, Maksym Dmitrievich has been removed from his post. And in early October, the Kyiv region promises to be one of four oblasts (along with Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv) whose leader will be determined by a supposedly transparent competition. A special Cabinet commission will review the applications of all applicants. But will the decision be fair? Or will some simpleton with a fat wallet once again emerge as the favorite, someone who can be blamed for all the blame and then dismissed in disgrace?
1. The inglorious end of a politician from NUBIP
The governor’s flight of the repeated hero of our publications was not long (https://ord-ua.com/2016/04/26/maksimus-melnichuk-i-prezidentskaya-vertikal-pakraschennyu-net-predela/).
Maximus was instantly disliked in the capital's "White House" (along with all 27 of his aides). The media constantly brought to light one or another of the "brilliant geneticist's" blunders. But Maxim Dmitrievich's real troubles began with the news that the National Police and the Prosecutor General's Office had nabbed his deputy, a man named Lyubko. He wanted a small sum (by the standards of Kyiv's "statists") from his subordinate—200 hryvnias, considering it a fair share of the kickback she had received. Otherwise, he threatened to fire her and give her a black mark. But the woman refused to share, insisting on her innocence. Lyubko tried in vain to protect himself, resorting to a whole chain of intermediaries—to no avail.
The arrest of his confidant so frightened Melnychuk that he almost retreated to a monastery (he spent two days hiding, either in the cells of the Pechersk Lavra or while fishing, pretending to have been abducted by aliens). But the storm passed as quickly as the clouds had gathered.
Rumor has it that the case is falling apart today – allegedly, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and his closest associate, MP, are busy at the very top Arthur PalatnyIn Melnychuk, these two saw a completely controllable person, capable of replenishing not only the presidential but also the Udar coffers.
Result: dismissal of Maxim Dmitrievich “at his own request” retroactively. And sarcastic comments. For example, here is what the ex-governor of the Kyiv region Evgeniy Zhovtyak (headed the Kiev region in 2005-2006) wrote on his Facebook: “It’s a good “business” - for 3 million dollars you will hire a person for a settlement and after 8 months you will evil him corruption... So what? The money is in the bag, and the statistics on the fight against corruption have been reduced!”
2. "The Sucker's Scam" on Bankova Street
What's written with a pen can't be cut out with an axe – yes, friends, that's the astronomical price tag for a governorship floating around the internet – imagine: 3 million dollars! Of course, under current conditions, recouping this generous "investment" in such a short period of time was practically impossible.
And how well it all started... Surely, a member of the agricultural family (whose decades of management at NUBIP had caused the state billions in losses) believed after a successful deal that his "investment" would "recoup." But it was not to be! A crowd of competitors scrutinized his every move. His inner circle, in particular, was not to be spared.
Imagine the surprise of landowner Maksym Melnychuk when, despite his extensive connections, personal loyalty to the presidential party, and his father's friendship with Poroshenko himself, he was summoned to the carpet on Bankova Street in April.
They blamed him for literally everything, including the disruption of mobilization in the Kyiv region and the decline in the BPP's ratings (which is highly unfair – what does Maximus have to do with it?).
The secret was simple: a top manager who had been scolding the governor discovered a shortfall in the payment received for the appointment. Rumor has it that part of the money paid for the position ended up in the hands of a middleman on its way to the Administration.
In short, the regional governor felt no guilt. He, in his own words, had given up everything they'd agreed upon and had "honestly" pressured the contractors to share with him. But he heard refusals everywhere. Why?
"What will they share with you if the kickback has already been given to its intended recipient – the party coffers?" the Kyiv Regional State Administration secretly answers this question.
We must give credit to Maksym Melnichuk's "successes" as governor. Imitating his elders, he tried to take bribes... Under his rule, the environmental situation worsened as a result of illegal sand mining (which we wrote about here: https://ord-ua.com/2016/07/05/genetik-gubernator-maksim-melnichuk-popalsya-na-goryachem/) and deforestation (which we wrote about here: https://ord-ua.com/2016/05/03/uchenyie-boyarskoj-stantsii-and-ekolog-zaika-cherez-8-let-na-kievschine-ne-budet-lesov/)...
But it's worth remembering that "sworn allies" from the regional state administration also had a hand in the governor's peccadilloes. And then they used them as an argument against him. This includes the scandalous lease of 2 hectares of land in the elite town of Kozin to former Party of Regions member Tariel Vasadze (who is a partner of First Deputy Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration Lev Partszhaladze), and the conflict with Kyiv minibus drivers (who accuse not the governor, but his first deputy, Lev, of corporate raiding.)
3. Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh, who's new?
Various media outlets today announced their predictions for the Kyiv Oblast governorship. Those interested still have time to submit their applications. For now, the list of contenders for the lucrative position is as follows.
1. Bondarev Konstantin Anatolyevich - head of the Kyiv regional "Batkivshchyna".
2. Smirnova Miroslava Mikhailovna – head of the Kyiv-Svyatoshinsky District State Administration.
3. Gorgan (Lyalka) Alexander Lyubomirovich — head of the Vyshgorod District State Administration.
4. Tereshchuk Alexander Dmitrievich - former head of the capital's police.
5. Partskhaladze Lev Revazovich – current first deputy governor of the Kyiv region.
Experts advise assessing their chances from two perspectives: loyalty to the President and financial solvency.
Konstantin Bondarev
Konstantin Bondarev, head of the Kyiv regional Batkivshchyna party, was a member of parliament of the 6th convocation on the BYuT list (his term expired in December 2012). His 2013 declaration shows an annual income of over 3 million hryvnias, including that of his family members, and 12 properties (apartments and plots of land). But will they let a man who constantly displays a portrait of his main rival, Yulia Volodymyrivna, into Petro Poroshenko's kitchen? Even if the BYuT and the BPP manage to reach an agreement on this matter, experts assess Bondarev's chances as minimal.
Miroslava Smirnova
Myroslava Smirnova, head of the Kyiv-Svyatoshinsky District State Administration, a key player in the land grabs, is a protégé of the UDAR group within the Petro Poroshenko Bloc. Specifically, Artur Palatny, a member of parliament and Klitschko's godfather. Incidentally, according to internal party agreements, the Kyiv governor's post is a sort of UDAR quota, so Smirnova theoretically has a chance. However, according to our information, the Presidential Administration is not pleased with the fact that the Kyiv UDAR members, despite being part of Poroshenko's team, are trying to make money bypassing them and build some semblance of autonomy.
Miroslava Smirnova is said to be unruly. The story of the construction of defensive fortifications (we'll touch on this fascinating topic separately below) is telling. She did not support Partskhaladze's blatant "undermining" of entrepreneurs.
As for her financial situation, she's held her position for over a year, but her income declaration for 2015 is nowhere to be found on the District State Administration website. However, other public sources indicate that the head of the District State Administration earned a whopping 35 hryvnias in 2015 (including family income). How do these poor people survive on 3 hryvnias a month in their 34-square-meter apartment? It's unclear...
Alexander Gorgan (Lyalka)
Oleksandr Gorgan (Lyalka), head of the Vyshgorod District State Administration, has been a member of the regional council since 2015 and was nominated by the presidential party for the position of head of the Kyiv Regional Council, but the deputies did not support him. During the Maidan, he became a great patriot of Ukraine. However, in his home district, Vyshgorod, he is also supported by the "Our Land" project (a favorite haven for the "Ryhs," who for some reason were not accepted into the Petro Poroshenko Bloc) and by former "Regional" member Yaroslav Moskalenko, who is a member of the "People's Will" parliamentary faction.
Gorgan has a remarkable ability to adapt. In his youth, he hung around both Medvedchuk's team and the "Young Regionals," and was a member of the leadership of the "Ukrainian National Committee of Youth Organizations," which was accused of unfairly distributing budget funds (the organization was controlled by then-Chief of the Administration Viktor Medvedchuk). Perhaps this was the reason he changed his last name in 2008 (Gorgan was previously known as Lyalka).
In short, this candidate's chances are significant. As for his income, he could be a secret millionaire. Gorgan's income declaration isn't on the Vyshgorod District State Administration website or anywhere else publicly available (which is a shame – it would be interesting to see).
Alexander Tereshchuk
Major General Alexander Tereshchuk is, according to our sources, one of the most reliable candidates from Bankova Street. Tereshchuk was subject to lustration, but the Presidential Administration couldn't part with this man, who is both a loyal servant and cannot be accused of poverty.
Although the former head of the capital's police declared only 289 hryvnias in income for 2014 (he did not disclose his family's income), his and his family's land plots total 6788 square meters. The general also owns several apartments totaling 395 square meters. And the program "Nashi Groshi," which featured him, uncovered an undeclared villa in a Kyiv cottage community, registered to the law enforcement officer's mother.
Lev Partskhaladze
Finally, all experts agree that Lev Partskhaladze, the first deputy governor of the Kyiv region, who has had troubled relations with both Shandra and Melnychuk, has been vying for the governor's post since June 2014 (and has done everything possible to undermine the Governor's trust in both?).
Regarding his wealth, in 2013, Focus magazine ranked him 188th on its list of the two hundred richest citizens in Ukraine, estimating Lev Revazovich's income at $37,5 million. In the 90s, when this near-oligarch was earning his first million, he, like other wealthy Ukrainians, was closely connected to the mafia. Detractors say he was formerly close to Boris Savlokhov's organized crime group, and attribute his career to the patronage of former Kyiv mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko.
When Partskhaladze decided to enter politics on his own, it turned out that the public support he could rely on was on the same ridiculous level as Maximus's. As we previously reported, Maximus Dmitrievich captured a mere 0,05% of Kyiv residents' support in the last mayoral elections, while Lev Revazovich and his "European Capital" party, having spent enormous amounts of money on PR, received 0,04% in 2006.
This candidate and his company, "XXI," are linked to a number of construction scandals. The most high-profile occurred in 2010, when Partskhaladze decided to build a five-star hotel between Lyuteranskaya and Kruglouniversitetskaya Streets for the Euro 2012 tournament. By then, he had already merged with "UDAR," but that didn't stop the businessman from siding with the Party of Regions. Lev Revazovich's moment of glory came after the victory of the Maidan.
Now this official (who also serves as President of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine) is credited with the controversial "Petrovsky Quarter" complex near Kyiv. In partnership with Oleksandr Tigov, head of the Kyivo-Svyatoshinsky district, he built a gigantic residential complex on 20 hectares of agricultural land. And the profits from the sale of the apartments appear to have been funneled offshore. At least in his 2015 asset declaration, Tigov reported his son's income as zero (even though it was the son who was the developer), and Partskhaladze, according to his declarations, is growing poorer by the day.
Reporting his income for 2014, the future (at that time) first deputy governor of the Kyiv region, Lev Partskhaladze, stated that he earned 1 million 652 thousand UAH. He attributed most of this money to the alienation of securities and corporate rights (1,5 million UAH), as well as the alienation of real estate (worth 149 thousand UAH). Lev Revazovich is a great altruist, since he agreed to work for a salary of 3,85 thousand UAH! He also indicated that his only real estate was three garages - 52 square meters in area - and cars manufactured in 2006 and 2010. The income of family members at that time amounted to 300 thousand UAH. The family also owned a plot of 0,52 hectares, two apartments of 120 and 381 square meters, and another garage of 16,3 square meters. m, as well as two cars: 2006 and 2012.
According to the official's 2015 declaration, Partskhaladze's income fell to UAH 1,391 million, of which salary rose to UAH 102,4 thousand. His main income, once again, came from the sale of securities—amounting to UAH 1.189 million. To make ends meet, the official was again forced to sell property (worth UAH 240,000). The declaration still lists three garages and four plots of land (Revazovich didn't sell the land, as his holdings had increased to 152 acres), the same apartments, and only two vehicles, manufactured in 2010 and 2013. However, Partskhaladze now has UAH 1,45 million in his bank accounts.
Thus, Lev Revazovich Partskhaladze, head of the Kyiv territorial organization of the Solidarity – Petro Poroshenko Bloc party, is virtually unrivaled. And he will definitely win this competition! If only he wants to…
"But more likely, they'll rip off another idiot who doesn't understand that all the money flows are tied to Partskhaladze," one of those who declined to participate in the race for the Kyiv governor's seat shared his opinion with ORD.
4. The overseer of the Kyiv region and his style of work
It's possible that the first deputy governor of the Kyiv region hasn't yet announced his intention to run for governor because he appreciates the advantages of his current position. Remaining in the shadow of the formal governor, he oversees his favorite topics (construction, infrastructure, land), wields greater influence, and is able to get away with it by blaming all miscalculations on the regional governor.
Be that as it may, only desperate idealists would believe in a transparent gubernatorial competition today. First of all, the country's leadership hasn't yet matured enough to give a chance to professionals who are capable of putting the interests of the community/country first (even if we dream that we have such personnel). And the President isn't tightening the power vertical with tame governors (whose job is primarily to ensure the proper conduct of elections and secondarily to enrich them) to let this process slide.
According to ORD sources, the upcoming competition is intended to address two objectives:
1. To demonstrate the transparency of the Ukrainian government to Ukraine’s external donors.
2. Make money at the next auction, where the governorship (after the incident with Maximus) is a dubious tasty morsel.
"Poroshenko's current concept, which has already been implemented in all regions, looks like this: 'Face of the Region,' 'Region Leader,' 'Overseer (cashier).' Depending on the situation in each region, this could be two or three people, or even just one. In the Kyiv region, until recently, the leader and the overseer were combined into one person. And that person is Lev Partskhaladze. Will they decide to make him 'Face' as well? I have no idea... And I'm not interested... It's disgusting," a source in the Kyiv regional state administration told ORD.
If the source is correct, it becomes irrelevant who wins the competition. It's far more interesting to evaluate Lev Revazovich's leadership style in this light, which has been repeatedly emphasized by the mayors of Kyiv's satellite towns: Serhiy Sabov, Mayor of Vasylkiv, and Volodymyr Karplyuk, Mayor of Irpin.
The first called Partskhaladze a bandit. The second claimed that Lev Revazovich ordered the beating of activists and was plotting his murder. It's worth recalling that in that conflict (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L87h0-f9RzQ) between Partskhaladze and Karplyuk, former Governor Shandra, for some reason, didn't support his deputy's side... And the reason wasn't just the expensive land in the suburbs, which both the mayors and the first deputy governor claim as their own. Moreover, Partskhaladze isn't the only one with a history of land issues. As for Karplyuk, everyone remembers his 67 apartments, declared in 2013, and his developing construction business, which is merging with the felling of centuries-old pines and oaks (a business the mayor himself denies, even though this "secret" is known to every dog in Irpen). However, unlike Partskhaladze, Karplyuk was, after all, elected by the people. And, oddly enough, the Irpen mayor still hasn't lost the support of local residents.
Unfortunately, Karplyuk never disclosed to the public which corrupt proposals he had refused to participate in (before he suspected his life was in jeopardy). And on July 21, he received another hint: his home was searched. There were many sensational headlines: "Fled the country," "Suspected of abuse of power." But after his vacation, Karplyuk calmly returned to his office. Rumor has it that the price for his quiet return will be his willingness to welcome "Lyova's overseer" into his "monastery." According to the website kievvlast.com.ua/, Partskhaladze's man will be the new first deputy mayor of Irpen.
But Sergey Sabov is more forthright. He says his falling out with Lev Partskhaladze began after the mayor of Vasylkiv refused his superiors' request to allocate land to a Donetsk resident. Partskhaladze's protégé turned out to be the son of the Party of Regions co-founder, former deputy governor of Donetsk, and the infamous "young regional" Alexander Adamov. Rich kid Sasha, like Lev Revazovich, loves to build something profitable. He's known for his scandalous developments and land deals in Donetsk, and now he's set his sights on Vasylkiv.
But Adamov's views are especially interesting. Just take a look at this defender of "Russian-secular" values:
Love for the Donetsk locusts - such as Sasha Adamov (and Slavik Sobolev, about whom we wrote here: https://ord-ua.com/2015/10/21/donetskaya-sarancha-vtoroe-prishestvie-alfonsa-soboleva-pod-kryishej-poroshenko-/ and here: https://ord-ua.com/2016/06/10/eks-regional-i-sponsor-dnr-vyacheslav-sobolev-idet-na-dovyiboryi-v-verhovnuyu-radu-ot-bpp/) - is an eloquent indicator of the "ideological" BPP.
Naturally, the System needs such people. And so Adamov Jr. managed to secure a cushy job in the capital as director of the Kyiv Regional Council's public utility, the Institute for Social and Economic Development of the Kyiv Region. In this position, Oleksandr Borisovich intends to participate in the embezzlement of millions of budget funds for the construction of 40 kilometers of fortifications in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone (the section assigned to the Kyiv region—Popasna and adjacent villages, where 16 strongholds are planned).
What does Partskhaladze have to do with this? As nr2.lt reported, in the summer of 2015, Lev Revazovich coerced district heads into collecting money from businessmen for the construction of fortifications. In exchange, the entrepreneurs were promised "ATO participant" status and the opportunity to earn extra money. This is how they managed to collect 15 million hryvnias. But in the end, according to the entrepreneurs, there was no money or structures. The builders went to the ATO, endured shelling, and returned. And now many are suing the general contractor, accusing Partskhaladze of fraud. They believe the "overseer" enriched either the party coffers or his own personal pocket with the 15 million.
Returning to Sabov, the mayor of Vasylkiv risked publicly declaring that Lev Revazovich was overseeing the dubious construction in the ATO. The scheme for profiting from defensive structures is simple and cynical to the point of disgust: the general contractor receives "cash" from the Ministry of Defense and pockets it, while the overseer persuades subcontractors to work for free, citing the interests of the Motherland. Let the heads of cities and districts find teams of "enthusiasts," supply them with materials, equipment, transportation, and food, while the first deputy governor exhorts them with patriotic speeches and a sudden tear. The mayor of Vasylkiv didn't like this scheme. So, first, Sabov didn't allocate Adamov a site for the construction of a new supermarket in the center of Vasylkiv, and then he didn't provide free labor for the ATO.
The mayor of Vasylkiv claims that he, like Karplyuk, is being targeted for not obeying the party-clan oligarchy. This is allegedly why Sabov is still facing ongoing legal proceedings, which he considers retaliation for his integrity.
And so we live... Top officials are pushing to the top those who have been working for years on the "Russian Spring"—apparently, it's easier to cut into the "defense" budget with them. And the country's leadership, while publicly advocating for transparency and greater powers for the regions, is clamping down on anyone who puts the interests of the community on a par with the ruling party's general line.
Top corrupt officials, despite all the NABU, trade positions with impunity. And they dump those who are weak or not resourceful enough to fill the party coffers. And the fact that the most loyal are usually the weakest in terms of professional qualities is a side effect. The wife of the dismissed official wasn't lying when she tearfully told the cameras that Maksym Dmitrievich was terribly loyal to Petro Oleksiyovych. It was his predecessor, Shandra, who could have rebelled against the Chief's will. Rumor has it he didn't cooperate with Roshen in obtaining 20 hectares of land in Boryspil bypassing a land auction. But Maksym, as soon as he took office, resolved the issue with the Roshen Biscuit Complex—construction of the scandalous factory is already underway. But that's not all...
In topic: Maksym Melnychuk: Who is the new Kyiv region's rich-boy governor?
Lev Partskhaladze: The Glamorous Builder of Kyiv Politics
Tatyana Zarovnaya, ORD
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