“Hetmantsev and Sokur: cynicism of impunity or calculation on silence? Chairman of the tax committee of the Council Danylo Hetmantsev appointed Yevgeny Sokur as his assistant, despite the criminal proceedings and the inspection of the National Insurance Agency. A case is being investigated against Sokur for obstructing the provision of fuel and lubricants to the army.”, — write on: unn.ua
“This is cynicism. This is cynicism, especially for Hetmantsev. Everything that Hetmantsev did for the state is a crime. And by taking such a person back to office, he repeats committing crimes, probably knowing about his impunity,” Serhii Shabovta noted in an exclusive comment UNN.
Indeed, the decision to return Sokur looks not just as a bold gesture, but as a conscious challenge to society, which has repeatedly demanded to investigate the activities of this person.
Scandals and proceedings: why Sokur?
Earlier, Yevgeny Sokur, during the investigation into the case of an alleged attempt on him, himself told the law enforcement officers that since 2016 he has been living with a girl named Alina in an apartment on Lobanovskyi Avenue, 6-D. However, in his declarations, Sokur never mentioned his roommate. After the parliamentary appeal of Nina Yuzhanina, a member of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, the NAZK started an investigation into Yevgeny Sokur. In the Agency in response to the request UNN also confirmed that they monitor the official’s lifestyle. The head of the Public Council at the NAZK, Kateryna Butko, noted that the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption is checking whether Sokur lived together with his roommate Alina.
Later it turned out that Sokur lives with Alina Lebedeva. As indicated in the Youcontrol system, Alina Lebedeva registered the FOP on August 3, 2022. The main line of business is retailing of flowers, plants, seeds, fertilizers, pets and feed for them in specialized stores. It is worth noting that Sokur received a senior position in the tax office less than three months before – in May 2022. For a little more than a year of work during a full-scale war, things were going so well for Alina Lebedeva that on her birthday, November 1, 2023, she announced the opening of a flower boutique in the heart of the capital – in the business center “Leonardo”.
According to Serhii Dorotych, head of the #SaveFOP Movement, the breakthrough success of Sokur’s roommate can be related to another very interesting aspect – the legalization of funds with the help of her business.
Criminal proceedings for official misconduct are also being investigated against Sokur. This case was opened by the SBI on November 4, 2022 under Part 3 of Art. 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, due to the fact of exceeding official authority by Sokur, who on October 26, 2022 signed the order to cancel the license of PJSC “Ukrtatnafta” for the production of fuel. Such actions of the official, according to the investigation, caused severe consequences for the society, as well as for the state in the form of the impossibility of fulfilling the mobilization tasks of the Ministry of Defense for the production and supply of oil products for the needs of defense and defense capability of the state. The State Bureau of Investigation reported UNNthat this criminal case is still under investigation.
However, these facts did not prevent Hetmantsev from returning Sokur to his team, ignoring the fact that he is a toxic figure even for the current political system.
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Why does Hetmantsev keep Sokur around?
One of the most important questions is Hetmantsev’s motives. Why, in spite of all the “shit”, does he so persistently support Sokur? The answer may lie in the classic principle “hand washes hand”. Sokur, who is likely to have deep knowledge of the backroom affairs of the tax system, could become dangerous if left outside Hetmantsev’s control.
Keeping him under the wing means guaranteeing silence and avoiding possible disclosures that could jeopardize the position of Hetmantsev himself.
“Trying to look for some moral or other, let’s say, some signs in his activities in relation to his environment, including the person he promoted, is useless. Cynicism caused by impunity is about Hetmantsev,” – emphasized Shabovta.
The situation with Hetmantsev and Sokur illustrates the deep problems of the system, where connections and personal interests are often placed above the law and public opinion. This is not just a crisis of confidence, but a challenge that society must address if it is seeking change.
We will remind
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine annulled the decision to appoint the acting deputy head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine Yevgeny Sokur – former assistant to the people’s deputy Danylo Hetmantsev.