Sergey Taruta
Talk and writing about an "oligarch conspiracy" began after their first "gathering" at the Hyatt Hotel in August. On December 19, a second meeting of prominent businessmen took place in Kyiv. According to the participants, they discussed the country's economic situation and options for overcoming the crisis.
This increased activity among leading entrepreneurs has become a particular focus at Bankova. As Glavkom has learned, the main source of irritation is Serhiy Taruta. This is the second time he has taken on the responsibility of organizing such an "event." Taruta, however, makes no secret of his negative attitude toward the policies of the president and prime minister. The current MP, and former governor of the Donetsk region, has repeatedly made public, well-reasoned attacks on the country's current leaders.
It is known that about 30 well-known businessmen were present at the last meeting of entrepreneurs: Viktor Pinchuk, Vasyl Khmelnitsky (read more about it in the article Vasyl Khmelnytsky: the planted oligarch), Oleg Bakhmatyuk, and others. Also present were representatives of Rinat Akhmetov's holding company and the owners of several large retail chains.
In his "December Theses" on the eve of the meeting, Taruta outlined the main problems facing Ukraine today: war, the occupation of Donbas and Crimea, a governance crisis, economic collapse, and national unity. "It's worth noting the reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the introduction of patrol police in some Ukrainian cities. This is the only obvious proof of ongoing reforms. At the same time, on the other side of the scale are the collapse of the national currency, the decline in industrial production, the impoverishment of the population, and the endless armed conflict in Donbas... Today, as 12 months ago, Ukraine faces a question of life and death for our state. We must choose life and fight for Ukraine," he wrote. After the meeting, Taruta emotionally summarized its results. "Business must demonstrate and declare that it is interested in the long-term development of the country, unlike officials who are interested in how to sit in power longer and loot more," he noted. “Business is interested in a level playing field, legislation that is not selective, and market and competitive conditions.”
Oleh Bakhmatyuk, co-owner of the agricultural holdings Avangard and UkrLandFarming, also conveyed the atmosphere of an "oligarchs' convention." "The idea of the meeting was quite simple: to declare the principle that we are ready to move toward recovery and not wait for the situation to escalate further," he noted in a comment to Liga. "We discussed what entrepreneurs should do to salvage the economic situation in Ukraine and improve social standards for the population. But we still couldn't reach a consensus... If businesses want to save Ukraine, they must come out of the shadows and pay all taxes, no matter what they are. Tax evasion through various schemes and bribery of the courts must be left in the past," Vitaliy Antonov, founder and co-owner of Galnaftogaz (Okko gas station chain), shared his impressions.
Following the meeting, the participants identified key points and created a working group to sign a joint statement on a plan for stabilization and development of the country by the end of the year.
This surge in activity from influential businesses has not gone down well with the Presidential Administration. The creation of a "creative" center for economic policy development, an alternative to the presidential office, is perceived by the presidential team as a threat.
"The meeting of business leaders is a sign; it can't help but worry Bankova," political scientist Andriy Zolotarev admitted in an interview with Glavkom. "The collapse of the Yanukovych regime began precisely when the grassroots united with the elite. Not only ordinary Ukrainians were dissatisfied with him, but also the oligarchs. In fact, this predetermined the end of his presidency. Bankova is well aware that the voice of people with such economic, financial, political, and media resources can be serious and influential."
In topic: Alexander Klimenko. He flew away, but he really wants to return.
On the one hand, according to the expert, Bankova reacted to this meeting with the utmost attention and concern. On the other hand, Zolotarev admits that there won't be any public statements or actions from Bankova in response for now: "The president has enough conflicts in the Verkhovna Rada right now without having to wrangle with the oligarchy."
However, according to Glavkom, the Presidential Administration has already taken a number of measures against the organizer of the "congress" – ISD co-owner and former governor Sergei Taruta.
Serhiy Oleksiyovych's relationship with the current government has been strained for some time. He has repeatedly openly criticized both the president's performance and the prime minister's "successes." Almost a year ago, in a candid interview with Glavkom, Taruta noted that during his tenure as governor of the Donetsk region, it was virtually impossible to negotiate with Poroshenko, Lozhkin, or Yatsenyuk. He also asserted that one could name "at least a hundred 'professors'" capable of healing Ukraine, "and all of them will be better than Yatsenyuk." "Now the war helps conceal absolute incompetence, and everything is being written off. But we understand perfectly well that Yatsenyuk is not the prime minister... Incidentally, Yanukovych's executors were more competent than Poroshenko's. Whether the goal was to plunder is another matter," Taruta mused. It is not surprising that with such rhetoric, his gubernatorial term became one of the shortest.
Meanwhile, a few days ago, the website of the publication "Business Capital," close to the Presidential Administration, published an article titled "Can Bankova Buy Taruta?" The main thrust of the article was that Taruta could head a political project financed by former Yanukovych associates currently hiding in Moscow. The article's protagonist categorically denied this scenario, further confirming that this "greeting" to Taruta was no accident. And active efforts to tarnish his reputation are already underway.
The founder of Delovaya Stolitsa is the private joint-stock company Kartel. In the summer of 2014, in an interview with Telekritika, Vadym Denisenko, now a member of parliament of the BPP faction, revealed that the Kartel publishing house had become his property. In April of this year, he announced that he had sold the publishing group after receiving his parliamentary mandate. However, he never specified to whom.
It is known that former journalist Denisenko is one of the media "creatives" of the Poroshenko Bloc and the Presidential Administration.
In more detail, the article discusses the possible emergence of a new political project in Ukraine, tentatively titled "Revival of Donbas" or "Restoration." According to the publication, voters in the east are already fed up with the Opposition Bloc, as demonstrated by record-low turnout in local elections. A new "Donbas" political project could have potential, as it would attract interest from several groups of residents in eastern Ukraine. "So far, these projects appear to be similar to Oleksandr Klymenko's movement, which is actively supported by billionaire and former head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, Serhiy Taruta. He will likely lead the party that is ultimately created, especially since Taruta has sufficient financial resources for this and is actively working to establish connections with influential Western politicians," DS writes.
The author of the article also recalls Taruta's participation in the forum "Restoring Donbass and Ukraine" organized by Klimenko.
The "young reformer" and former Minister of Taxes and Duties, Oleksandr Klymenko, has indeed been busy "whitewashing" his reputation for a long time and makes no secret of his desire to return to Ukraine. He has taken a creative approach to his return campaign: strange videos featuring Klymenko that have appeared online suggest he is destined to become the unifier and reconciler whose knowledge and experience have been undervalued in his homeland. Furthermore, Klymenko has launched a project with the highly promising title "Donbas Reconstruction," based in Kyiv, and was elected honorary head of the "Successful Country" political party. It is expected that this party project will serve as a legal cover for the Yanukovych-era figure's return to politics.
However, Taruta ruled out any involvement in any "former" projects. "Where am I and where is Klimenko? I fought them when they were here," he noted in an exclusive comment to Glavkom. "It's not that I had any ideological differences before, but we understand perfectly well who are some of those who destroyed the country we had, and who are now trying to make things worse." He called the DS article stupid and a paid hit, and linked it to Bankova's war against him: "They always try to throw dirt at anyone who's reasonable." "Initiative is always punishable," he noted, referring to a recent meeting of big business. "Who punishes? Those who are harmed by it. I don't criticize the government, I criticize the results. If that's how they react, that's their business. But attempts to pin something on me have never been successful."
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