Actions against Ferrexpo look like pressure for mercantile purposes, not fight against corruption, — Okhotin
Regular actions by law enforcement agencies against companies with Ukrainian capital could lead to their being replaced by pro-Russian capital, as happened in Georgia
This was written by Petro Okhotin, political technologist, who is now a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"As for me, I am afraid of what is happening in Georgia, a country that survived Russia's aggression 16 years ago, but now is falling victim to Moscow's soft power. I am referring about the laws on 'LGBT propaganda' and 'foreign agents'," writes Okhotin.
In his opinion, one of the reasons for the Georgian events is that the authorities were too preoccupied with the fight against national capital, which resulted in its place being taken by the pro-Russian-oriented one.
Okhotin expresses concern that if the Ukrainian government continues to put pressure on its own business, Russian capital with official foreign registration will enter Ukraine. And then the Georgian scenario may be repeated, with pro-Russian forces lobbying for controversial laws.
"We constantly hear about raids on businesses. It could be a medium-sized company like KyivGuma or Balistyka. It could be an investor like Mazepa. It can be a big business like Kostiantyn Zhevaho's Ferrexpo. Restricting the freedom of top managers with cosmic amounts of bail looks too much like pressure for mercantile purposes, not the fight against corruption," notes the political strategist.
According to him, the losses incurred by the companies have a negative impact on Ukraine's economy and weaken the home front. After all, businesses are forced to go into the shadows and invest additional funds to repel attacks by law enforcement. Okhotin mentions Ferrexpo, which declared losses of $80 million due to the need to make provisions for litigation. The expert notes that if it were not for the pressure from the security forces, the company could have made profits and paid taxes that would have revitalized the country’s economy.
"Ukrainian authorities need to talk to business and give clear rules. "Power entrepreneurship" should be directed outward, not inward. Russian assets in the West should be confiscated and effective sanctions introduced. International giants should be forced to stop operating in Russia. As for doing business within Ukraine, rules and transparency are a must have. It does not mean whether it is the case of Mazepa, a situation with Kostiantyn Zhevaho's Ferrexpo, KyivGuma, Balistyka," summarizes Petro Okhotin.