One of the weights of many post-Soviet states is what are known as “oligarchs”.. A common word in the case of Russia is also an important actor in politics and economy in countries such as Georgia, Armenia or Ukraine because they are also control environment in their own country. Many of their wealth in the 90s, when Soviet state-owned companies were sold at very low prices in the respective countries newly created after the collapse of the Soviet Union. And Kyiv, which is now in full conflict with Moscow, has decided to move forward in the fight against the influence of these magnates by nationalizing some of the strategic companies.
At the beginning of November, the Ukrainian authorities chose to expropriate these firms, which are vital to the military power of the Slavic country, for state use, but this measure fell into the background during the Kherson counteroffensive. In particular, Volodymyr Zelensky’s government nationalized Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta (oil companies owned by Igor Kolomoisky), Motor Sich (manufacturer of aircraft and helicopter engines owned by Viacheslav Bohuslayev), AvtoKRAZ (trucks and other off-road vehicles company). Konstantin Zhevajo) and Zaporizhtransformator (energetic, owned by Konstantin Grygoryshyn).
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the Security Council of Ukraine, stated that this decision was taken.nationalize the assets of strategically important companiesWhile martial law continues, “these assets may be returned to their owners or have their value restored after martial law is lifted.” Kyiv declared martial law on February 24, the first day of Russia’s offensive against Ukraine, and it is not expected to be lifted any time soon.
One of these oligarchs, Bohuslayev, was imprisoned on charges of “collaborating with Russia” for selling him aircraft engines, along with some board members, as well as losing Motor Sich.
The “break up” process
These Ukrainian millionaires are not the only targets of the Kyiv government. very one expropriated Russian oligarchs He said that despite the bad relations between Russia and Ukraine since 2014, they hold the shares of Ukrainian companies. Such is the case of Vladimir Yevtushenkov, who lost 17 properties covering a total area of 100,000 square meters and a stake in Ukrainian energy and information technology companies. The Anti-Corruption Center, a non-state organization that supports such actions, pointed out that they are targeting other Russian magnates in Ukraine, such as Arkadi Rotenberg or Oleg Deripaska, a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. others. .
The Ukrainian government has already ‘deoligarquización’ policy in 2021. At the time, some critical voices feared that this law would be used arbitrarily to harm certain oligarchs, as some remember Zelensky’s ties to one of the most powerful oligarchs in Ukraine, Igor Kolomoisky, but this 2022 was one of those affected. This relationship earned him the nickname “servant of the oligarchs”, changing the name of his party and the serial (“Servant of the People”) in which he plays the Ukrainian president in fiction. These pressures led to the emergence of tycoons like Petro Poroshenko, who had to sell the television station at the end of 2021. He previously held the presidency of the country between 2014-2019 and was replaced by Zelensky.
This struggle to take power from the oligarchs, One of the most important points Brussels asks Kiev to accelerate possible future EU memberships. Ukraine was given official candidate status along with Moldova last June, while Georgia, another former Soviet country, could be added to the list in the near future. Brussels wants these three countries to become part of the European Union by 2030, along with other pending countries such as the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia).