Viktor Halasyuk: An innovative window-dresser from Lyashko's party. Part 1
Ukrainians have become accustomed to the idea that the road to Ruin is paved with good reforms. Therefore, bill No. 7206, "Buy Ukrainian, Pay Ukrainians," actively lobbied by a group of parliamentarians led by Viktor Halasyuk, has sparked a certain wariness and skepticism. So much so that Halasyuk is now insistently demanding the resignation of First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Maksym Nefyodov, who believes the bill opens the door to corruption and violates the Association Agreement with the EU.
Both sides present seemingly compelling arguments, making it difficult to determine the truth. But in this dispute, which has long since moved beyond a simple discussion of the new law, the disputing "economic luminaries" themselves are also of interest. Ukrainians have heard quite a bit about Boris Nefyodov since he participated in the Kyiv gay pride parade in June 2017 (along with the ambassadors of Canada and the United Kingdom). Viktor Halasyuk, however, remains little known, despite his frequent appearances on various programs and talk shows as an "expert." So who is this man who takes on the task of lobbying for strategic economic laws?
Victor Galasyuk. Familyth business
Viktor Valerievich Galasyuk was born on August 28, 1981, in Dnipropetrovsk (now Dnipro), and was apparently named after his grandfather. He never spoke of his childhood, youth, or family. His official biography only details his personal accomplishments: he graduated from high school, and in 1998, he enrolled in the economics department of the National Mining University of Ukraine, simultaneously beginning his career at Cowperwood. One can easily imagine Galasyuk, a young student, poring over accounts during the day, balancing debits and credits, and rushing off to classes in the evenings, taking tests, and editing papers. But this is only an illusion. Perhaps this is done to portray Viktor Galasyuk as a self-made economic genius—a figure who perfectly complements his current status as an expert and innovative lobbyist.
In fact, it's not Viktor Galasyuk who's truly a genius, but his father, Valeriy Viktorovich Galasyuk (born 1958). At least this humble Soviet financial inspector managed to rise to great heights. Of course, his current regalia and titles are more reminiscent of medals on the uniform of an African king: he holds the title of Academician of the Academy of Economic Sciences—not an academic organization, but a public one; he is a member of the board of the Ukrainian Society of Appraisers, a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, and a member of the board of trustees of the Ukrainian Society of Financial Analysts (purely corporate organizations). He holds medals and badges from these organizations, the significance of which can only be appreciated within their narrow circle. Furthermore, since 2002, Valeriy Galasyuk has penned dozens of economic publications, but whether he wrote them himself is questionable! However, in addition to all this “blah-blah-blah” (as the Americans say), Valeriy Galasyuk is the founder and owner of several enterprises that generate profit – and that’s a real achievement!
Valery Viktorovich Galasyuk
The Galasyuks' official business began in 1993, when their first family business was established: the audit firm "KAUPERWOOD" LLC (EDRPOU code 20219083), which even has a website bearing the family name, www.galasyuk.com. Yes, this is the very same firm where, five years later, first-year student Vitya Galasyuk would become an accountant. This meant he didn't have to work and study at the same time: he was simply listed as an employee of his parents' company (receiving a salary), while he himself was an ordinary full-time student, spending five days a week in classrooms.
According to Skelet.Org , Viktor Galasyuk's first business partner was his wife, Tatyana Vladislavovna Galasyuk (born 1957), who is now a co-owner of several companies. It's worth noting that their son, Viktor Galasyuk, is not listed in public databases of the Galasyuk family's businesses, but a certain Natalya Valentinovna Galasyuk (born 1973) does. Interestingly, the home address of Galasyuk the father and Natalya Galasyuk is the same (Dnipropetrovsk, Komsomolskaya Street), while Galasyuk the mother lives in a house on Gogolya Street—where her husband and son had previously been registered, dating back to Soviet times. Which leads to some rather curious conclusions... Well, one can only envy the academician!
Over the following years, the trio became owners and directors of the following companies:
- LLC Audit firm "KAUPERWOOD" (EDRPOU code 20219083) - owners Valery Galasyuk and Tatyana Galasyuk (70% and 30%)
- LLC Audit firm "COWPERWOOD-Plus" (30093094) - Valery Galasyuk
- LLC Audit firm "F. COWPERWOOD" (31898166) - Valeriy Galasyuk and Natalia Gaisan (50% each)
- LLC Real Estate Agency "Inkon-Center" (21870411) — Valery Galasyuk and Tatyana Galasyuk
- Audit firm "Stoik" LLC (21883245) — Valery Galasyuk, Ekaterina Surinina, Alexey Amfiteatrov
- Mag-Audit LLC (31217385) — Valery Galasyuk and Natalia Galasyuk (50% each)
- LLC Specialized Accounting Bureau "BOOKKIPER" (30832146) - Valery Galasyuk and Natalia Galasyuk (50% each)
- LLC Real Estate Agency "Ard" (32448352) — Valery Galasyuk
For some reason, his parents didn't include their son as a co-owner: Viktor Galasyuk had only a very small stake (less than 10%) in COWPERWOOD-Plus LLC, but his 2013-2014 declarations didn't include any shares in this company. It's safe to say he received no income from the family business—except for the cash his parents provided him with, often in cash, to pay for his home and car.
But in 2014, Viktor Halasyuk won a parliamentary seat from the Radical Party, and his legal balance changed dramatically, almost like in the advertising jingle: he made some money, and things changed! So, in 2014, Viktor Halasyuk declared only 167,000 hryvnias in salary, a modest 40,9-square-meter apartment, and a 2012 Toyota Camry. But in 2015, he pulled off an interesting somersault: he sold the small 40-square-meter apartment for 1,016 million hryvnias and bought his wife (Yulia Halasyuk) a 65-square-meter apartment for just 597,000 hryvnias. But most importantly, that same year he also declared a sudden cash inflow of 1,375 million hryvnias and $217,000 in cash. Where did he get it from? Halasyuk states in his declaration that a kind man named Vladislav Pavlovich Goncharenko (who is he?) lent him $200,000 interest-free for a very long period (Halasyuk still hasn't repaid it). Okay, so where did the rest come from? In 2016, Viktor Halasyuk added to his assets with his own apartment (63,7 square meters), purchased in Kyiv for 1,649 million hryvnias (wasn't that cheap?), and it was recorded as a gift from his mother. But in exchange, according to the declaration, the loving son bought his mother an apartment for 940,000 hryvnias. Finally, in 2017, Viktor Halasyuk acquired shares in Ukrgasbank: 100 of them, with a par value of 26,885.66 hryvnias, and a market value of 2,688,566 hryvnias ($100,000). And it’s unlikely that a candidate of economic sciences and a hereditary auditor could have messed up anything in his declaration!
Of course, compared to the millions and billions embezzled by the oligarchs, Viktor Halasyuk's "additional" income appears quite modest: by the standards of the Verkhovna Rada, he's simply a pauper and a "destitute." Nevertheless, it also raises questions, especially considering that MP Halasyuk positions himself as a lobbyist for major economic projects.
From "Ukrainian Skolkovo" to "Buy Ukrainian!"
Without extensive connections and contacts among officials, directors, and prominent businessmen, advancing in auditing in the 90s was virtually impossible. Valeriy Galasyuk possessed these connections, apparently dating back to Soviet times. Judging by his penchant for all sorts of "get-togethers," the creation of public organizations and "academies," and his penchant for regalia, Valeriy Viktorovich may have come from a Komsomol background. It's possible he personally knew former Komsomol and party functionaries in Dnipropetrovsk who became oligarchs and ministers in the 90s, and therefore was able to secure contracts for his audit firms through them.
For some reason, Viktor Halasyuk didn't follow in his father's footsteps—either family circumstances prevented him, or he didn't inherit his father's talents. So, after earning his master's and bachelor's degrees, he remained in graduate school, defending his dissertation in 2005, and then worked at the university as a lecturer in the Department of Entrepreneurship Economics until 2009. Simultaneously, from 2001 to 2014, Viktor Halasyuk was listed as the director of the economic consulting department at his parent company, Inkon-Center LLC (see above). Whether a real estate agency needed an "economic consulting department" is a good question! Clearly, Halasyuk Jr. was simply earning a salary there. Well, this wouldn't be surprising in Ukraine: the practice of employing children and relatives in various high-paying positions at their own companies is quite common here. But it's also well known that this is often the case for those who are incapable of actually running their own business. Let's reiterate that Viktor Halasyuk's parents never made him a co-owner of their companies. Perhaps he's ashamed to watch his colleagues in the Rada, who, on the contrary, register their factories and banks in their parents' names. So what can he lobby for there?
And yet, his parents quietly promoted him—for example, by helping him acquire various honorary titles. Thus, Viktor Halasyuk became the Chairman of the Investment Projects Evaluation Commission (2007), a board member of the Dnipropetrovsk branch of the European Business Association (2008), and a member of the executive committee of the Ukrainian Society of Financial Analysts (2011). But these cardboard regalia were of little real use. A ray of hope appeared when, in 2011, Viktor Halasyuk was given a seat (did his father buy it?) on the public council of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. At the very least, there was the potential to make useful contacts and even start his own business. Perhaps that's where the oligarch Vasyl Khmelnytsky discovered him , plotting a new grandiose scam called "Bionic Hill Innovation Park."
Sergey Varis, for Skelet.Org
CONTINUED: Viktor Galasyuk: An innovative window-dresser from Lyashko's party. PART 2
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