Odesa agro traders accuse BES of blocking work of port companies

Agricultural traders accuse representatives of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) of putting pressure and blocking work at enterprises in the port of Odesa.

This was discussed at a press conference.

Attollo Granum LLC director Oleksandr Pavlenko, Prista Oil-Ukraine LLC director Oleksandr Lototskyi, and the companies' lawyers were present.

According to the participants of the event, since December 19, BES detectives have been paralyzing the activities of dozens of companies operating in the port of Odesa, citing alleged tax evasion. In particular, Attollo Granum, which paid more than UAH 25 million in taxes last year, suffers daily losses of more than UAH 750 thousand due to the blocking of its operations. Similar problems have arisen at the company "Prista Oil-Ukraine", which employs more than 160 people.

The lawyers emphasize that the searches are carried out in violation of the law: the property is actually seized without a court order, and investigative actions are not carried out. Instead, detectives resume and stop searches on a daily basis without clear explanations for their actions.

"Detectives arrive at the place of search every morning, where they read out a ruling on the need to "resume" investigative actions," and in the evening of the same day, the detective reads out a "suspension" of investigative actions. At the same time, the ruling of the Kyiv District Court of Odesa... refers to a search, but there is not a single word about the seizure of property, which is actually taking place," the lawyer said.

Representatives of the companies filed complaints with the Office of the President, the Prosecutor General, the BES, the SBI, and the Business Support Council, but received no response. They believe that such actions by law enforcement are aimed at hindering economic activity, which harms not only business but also Ukraine's international image, especially in the context of the war and the blockade of the grain corridor.

On January 9, the BES announced that it had exposed a group of companies through which US investors' funds were withdrawn for tax evasion during grain transshipment.

According to the BES, the group of companies evaded paying UAH 30 million in income tax while transshipping wheat. The companies are part of a holding company that is a resident of the United Arab Emirates and is involved in a number of criminal proceedings and court cases regarding the illegal withdrawal of funds from American investment funds. Searches are currently underway at the grain terminal.

Earlier, the BES detained grain that was being smuggled out of the port of Odesa.

Ірина Глухова