Ukrspirt: Yanukovych's allies seize distilleries

Three state-owned distilleries have been seized by Yanukovych's accomplices. The factories are actively producing illegal alcohol for the black market. Part of the proceeds are funneled to the needs of the "Novorossiya" terrorists.

Former "titushki" from the criminal group of Alexei Chebotarev (Chernihiv's "king of contraband tobacco and alcohol" with the endearing nickname "Leshik"), under the leadership of his loyal assistant Andriy Akimenok (Chebotarev's right-hand man, a former tax official), carried out a hostile takeover of two distilleries in the Rivne region (the Shpanivske EZHE State Enterprise and the Zirnensky Distillery State Enterprise) and the Chernihiv Distillery.
For about a month now, the guys have been distilling alcohol and vodka on an industrial scale, worth tens of millions of hryvnias per month.
The violation is well known to law enforcement agencies, but, as reported by the press service of the state-owned enterprise Ukrspirt, local law enforcement officials are in no hurry to resolve the issue. Case No. 22014000000000470, opened on September 27 of this year under Part 2 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code against the "service bodies" of the seized enterprises, has been strangely transferred between various agencies and departments and has already been handled by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the local financial investigation department of the Ministry of Revenue.
According to our sources, Chebotarev and Akimenko continue to shamelessly exploit their old contacts, namely Vasily Pisnoy, head of the Department for Combating Economic Crimes and the Environment, better known by his nickname "Antibiotic." He was given this nickname because he is capable of solving any problems with the police.
Over the years, journalists have repeatedly exposed and accused him of bribery, smuggling, facilitating the disappearance of physical evidence, and collaborating with criminal groups. A figure in numerous corruption scandals, Vasyl Mykhailovych skillfully suppresses attacks on his honor in the courts. He is so meticulous in covering his tracks that he even divorced his wife, Olga Kostik (though he continues to live with her), so that no one would question how this enterprising woman acquired two hotels (Natalia 18 and Koliba) and the Foros restaurant in Lviv.
Pisnoy and his henchmen successfully arrange for all cases related to the seized factories to be circulated among various Rivne regional departments: prosecutor's offices, the SBU, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Fiscal Service, settling in the desks of investigators and operatives for the maximum legally prescribed period. They also organize a persecution campaign against anyone who interferes with the factories' affairs.
The group's media arm is overseen by former BYuT MP Tatyana Donetsk, who frequently visits Akimenok's ostrich farm. Her interests and motivations for getting involved remain unknown, but on October 13, Tatyana Anatolievna filed a parliamentary inquiry with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk against the current management of Ukrspirt, citing dubious articles in tabloid sites. However, rumor has it that it was Ms. Donetsk's "watchdogs" who filled the Ukrainian internet's "black" portals with highly unreliable information. Ukrspirt, which has been trying to reclaim its factories for a month now, has been dealt a heavy blow, and its management has been accused of conspiring with the devil. And just before the publication of the latest “exposing material,” Tatyana Anatolyevna once again went to admire the ostriches.
It's noteworthy that Donetsk filed the aforementioned request at the request of the Chernihiv Trade Union of Entrepreneurs, which is controlled by Chebotarev. Although, to be fair, it should be noted that Ms. Donetsk may have simply been misled and actually believes she is doing good.
Mr. Chebotarev himself is currently wanted for organizing the kidnappings of civil society activists and mass murders on the Maidan during the Revolution of Dignity. He is allegedly sheltered by the same "good people" who are hiding fugitive dictator Viktor Yanukovych.
Anonymous sources close to Chebotarev claim that he pays his hosts for shelter with contributions to "funds" for Donbas independence fighters. Thus, sponsorship contributions to separatist fighters provide him with a secure base. Considering that bootleg alcohol is his most profitable business today, it's safe to assume that every bottle of Chebotarev's vodka could cost the lives of our soldiers.
Ukrspirt, however, finds itself in an extremely awkward situation, as any illegal alcohol production is automatically blamed on the state-owned company. Company employees are besieging the highest authorities with stacks of documents and evidence of illegal activity at the seized facilities, but Mr. Chebotarev still has plenty of influential friends. It seems that even the vaunted Department for Control over Circulation and Taxation of Excisable Goods, which is constantly "fighting...," is fighting its battles on some other front, and probably not even in this country.
Ukrspirt's last hope lies with the Presidential Administration and Petro Poroshenko personally. We hope that after the elections, our authorities' lustration and anti-corruption fervor will not wane, and that, instead of merely maintaining a façade of frantic activity, they will finally begin fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to them by the people.
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