Ukraine Cabinet places fiscal head on leave pending investigation

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers decided on March 3 to place on leave Roman Nasirov, the head of the State Fiscal Service who was faces a criminal investigation. The prior night, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau named Nasirov a suspect in a criminal scheme allegedly arranged by exiled MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko, in which Nasirov is accused of giving an order that cost the state budget UAH 2 bln (USD 74 mln).The State Fiscal Service oversees all tax and customs collections.

Nasirov’s lawyer told reporters the night of March 5 that his client denies the criminal charges he accused of. Although he was was not detained since the responsible court failed to adjourn, activists surrounded the courtroom the evening of March 5 to prevent him from evading detention and a possible court hearing. Nasirov has assured the public he would not flee abroad and volunteered to subject himself to 24-hour surveillance. Recall, Onyshchenko was able evade detention and currently resides in Great Britain.

A Kyiv district court ruled that Yulia Marushevska, the former head of the Odesa customs service, caused UAH 6.92 mln (USD 0.26 mln) in damages to the state for “doubtful orders” that she gave during her tenure, she reported on her Facebook page on March 5. Instead of being illegal, these orders that restricted corruption opportunities, Marushevska wrote in her own defense. On March 3, Marushevska alleged that state law enforcement searched her residence and posted video online as alleged evidence. These bodies, including the security service, denied the claim.

Zenon Zawada: For the first time, the activity of the anti-corruption bureau has reached the inner circle of Ukrainian President Poroshenko with the criminal charges against Nasirov. Poroshenko has taken a neutral position, reaffirming that the anti-corruption bureau is an independent body. Yet we can’t help but think he’s a little nervous about the situation.

If her claims are true, then it’s no coincidence that Marushevska has come under the microscope just as Nasirov faces possible criminal charges. She and Mikheil Saakashvili waged a nasty political battle in Odesa against Nasirov before they both resigned at the end of last year.

Unfortunately, all this has the signs of the latest infighting among factions within the government, even if that wasn’t the intention of the anti-corruption bureau with its moves against Nasirov. While the possible prosecution of a figure as close to the president as Nasirov is a possible sign of true independence of anti-curruption bodies, the possible retribution against Marushevka would further confirm the ongoing practice of using law enforcement as a political instrument, which had been the case in the Yanukovych era.