Yermak adviser says he resigned over corrupt schemes

Ihor Umanskiy, an
adviser to President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak, said on Nov. 18 that he
resigned his post owing to a lack of action from his boss to his attempts to
combat corruption schemes at the tax and customs services, as well as the state
roads agency. “The reaction was quite stormy. But unfortunately, I didn’t see
respective actions,” Umanskiy told the Ukrinform news agency on Nov. 18.
“That’s precisely why I am convinced, that only with a public position, public
pressure on the government leaders, is it possible change its position,”
Umanskiy said. He added, “That’s precisely why, in order to be able to speak
publicly on this, I submitted my resignation. Because doing this is improper
and unethical having the status of an adviser.”

On Nov. 13, Umanskiy
wrote on his Facebook page that COVID-19 funds are being usurped by a road
construction cartel of six companies with ties to state officials. They resell
some of their contracts to subcontractors at a 30%-40% discount, he alleged.
The Great Construction road construction program exemplifies the “unprecedented
level of growth in corruption and the government’s loss of an adequate
perception of reality,” Umanskiy wrote. He estimated UAH 36 bln of COVID-19
funds were needlessly spent. “The country is approaching economic Armageddon,”
he wrote.

Umanskiy announced
his resignation on Nov. 12 on his Facebook page under the pretext of the
government’s decision to impose weekend lockdowns. “A weekend quarantine? Ok!
Then everyone to the exit! I will start first. I submitted the respective
letter to Bankova. Regarding the reasons for the resignation, everything after
the decision on my letter,” he wrote.

Zenon Zawada: We don’t view Umanskiy as a
crusader for justice, being a career bureaucrat long familiar with corruption in politics.
It’s no coincidence that a new customs head, Pavlo Riabikin, was announced
on Nov. 18. In all likelihood, he was not Umanskiy’s choice. It’s also possible
Umanskiy is looking for consulting work with the IMF, considering he
specifically mentioned alleged schemes at the tax and customs services
currently under scrutiny.

Ultimately, it confirms a desire by many
bureaucrats of not wanting to be involved with this largely ineffective
administration and cabinet, either of which could begin to unravel at any
moment. Umanskiy’s forecast of economic Armageddon is not unrealistic.