Journalists examined the State Register of Declarations, access to which was restored by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption on December 10. The analysis found that some government employees purchased luxury cars after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Among them, in particular, are people's deputies from the Servant of the People party, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the DBR, judges of district and appellate administrative courts. Among the purchased cars are new Lexus, BMW, Audi and Tesla worth several million hryvnia. Some government employees, according to the Schemes investigation, took out a loan to buy the latest model, while others, according to the declarants, received financial help from their parents.
Judge of the Kharkov Court of Appeal Sergei Shabelnikov became the owner of a 2022 LEXUS NX 350H in December 2022. This is a mid-size premium crossover with all-wheel drive, a 4th generation full hybrid. In the message about significant changes in the property status, the judge indicated the cost of the car - 2 million 185 thousand hryvnia.
When asked by Schemes about buying a car at the height of the war, Judge Shabelnikov briefly noted that “all the information will be in the declaration,” and he “doesn’t have time for other comments, since he is engaged in official activities.”
Subsequently, the judge called back and said that he bought the car with his own money, that he “needs a reliable car in Kharkov,” and that he “and his colleagues are helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
Judge of the Eighth Administrative Court of Appeal Tatyana Shinkar became the owner of a 2022 AUDI Q7 last September.
In a message about significant changes in property status, she indicated its value - 2.7 million hryvnia. In a conversation with a journalist, the judge explained that “they placed an order for this car a year ago.”
“We paid the first installment. And we, in other words, had no choice,” Shinkar replied.
Judge of the Turkovsky District Court in the Lviv region Rostislav Ferenc indicated in a message from the NAZK that this year he took out a loan to purchase a 2023 Toyota Corolla, noting its cost at 1 million 338 thousand hryvnia.
In a commentary to Schemes, the judge noted that he took out a loan so that his wife could buy a car. When asked why they chose the latest model car, he replied: “There were no others, so to speak.”
As journalists found out, law enforcement officers also bought new cars.
In particular, in May 2022, the director of the Department of Informatization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Alexander Mikhailov, received help from his mother in the amount of 898 thousand hryvnia.
The day after receiving financial assistance, Mikhailov became the owner of a 2020 TESLA Model Y electric car.
He indicated its cost at 1.2 million hryvnia. The mother of the Ministry of Internal Affairs employee did not want to comment on the monetary gift to journalists.
“As soon as I see you, I can say something. Maybe you’ll make a phone call from somewhere else – it’s unclear where,” noted Lyubov Mikhailova. When asked to show her press ID, she replied: “Maybe now you know what? There are plenty of bandits and these... too! And they can arrange whatever you want. How can I say that I am the president, then what?” and hung up.
Her son, Director of the Department of Informatization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Alexander Mikhailov, said that he was “ready to answer questions in person, and not by phone,” but found it difficult to say exactly when, emphasizing that “he can’t do it right now, he’s working.”
On September 15, 2022, the head of the DBR department, Alexander Govorushchak, submitted a declaration to the NAPC that he had become the owner of a BMW X5.
2018, indicating the cost of 1 million 350 thousand hryvnia. When asked about the advisability of buying such a car during the war, Govoruschak said: Why did you decide that I should answer? What you say (that the journalist is asking the question - ed.) may not correspond to reality.” When asked to show his ID, he reacted like this: “I’m not interested. The declaration says it all, look and study. If you have any comments, please forward them to the appropriate authorities.”
At the end of 2022, Deputy Mayor of Uzhgorod Vadim Borets indicated that he became the owner of a 2022 BMW X7 XDRIVE 30D and noted its cost - one and a half million hryvnia.
When asked for a comment, Vadim Borets stated that he “doesn’t know who he’s talking to” and invited the journalist to come to Uzhgorod.
Schemes also discovered two people’s deputies from the Servant of the People faction, who purchased luxury cars in August 2022.
In particular, the head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, Sergei Babak, became the owner of a 2019 BMW 530E, indicating its cost as 1 million 200 thousand hryvnia.
Another people's deputy, member of the parliamentary committee on energy and housing and communal services, Evgeny Pivovarov, became the owner of a 2020 Audi A8.
The value indicated in the declaration is 1 million 300 thousand hryvnia. Both lawmakers declined to comment by telephone. Sergei Babak subsequently sent a message in which he noted that before the purchase he sold another BMW for 600 thousand hryvnia and helps the military, although he does not promote himself on this.
“After the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption restored access to the State Register of Declarations, it became clear that the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine did not prevent the renewal of the fleets of Ukrainian judges, law enforcement officers and deputies at various levels. All this while the whole country is collecting pickup trucks for Ukrainian soldiers, who are in short supply,” the investigation says.
