Driven to the brink of desperation, Turkish and American farmers attempting to grow tomatoes, barley, sunflowers, watermelons, wheat, onions, and other crops on leased land have appealed to the President of Ukraine (Petro Poroshenko), the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), and the Prosecutor General (Yuriy Lutsenko) for assistance and protection. The agricultural operations are carried out by the firms Charistron and Global Invest, whose beneficiaries are Errol Karakas (USA) and Ahmet Kodan (Turkey).
This isn't about criminal prosecution or corporate raiding, although it certainly appears that way: the prosecutor's office regularly conducts unfounded inspections and searches without bringing specific charges. According to the lawyer for the aforementioned firms (Evgeny Bela): "...seven searches were conducted during the criminal proceedings... Every effort is being made to block the businesses' operations. Meanwhile, workers are unable to receive their full wages, as the businesses were unable to cultivate their land this year and, consequently, harvest their crops."
Another lawyer representing the businesses (Elena Kozachek) informed those gathered at the press conference that, due to law enforcement terror, "...Businesses are struggling to operate and incurring losses. At the same time, they are preserving jobs. The businesses are paying their taxes in full." It was also noted that not only the businessmen but also the more than 400 residents of the village of Nadezhdivka (Kherson Oblast) employed by businesses are interested in resolving the situation.
The statement from investor representative Greg Lightfoot reads as follows: "On behalf of foreign investors and U.S. businessmen, I appeal to the President of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General, and the Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine to stop this arbitrary prosecution, protect foreign investors, and oversee this case. We intend to continue working in Ukraine, as it is a good place for development. But we need to restore trust in the Ukrainian government..." "We see great opportunities for our businesses and for exporting our products," Greg Lightfoot added.
SKELET-info
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