Flourishing corruption schemes at the Ukrainian customs still exist due to consensus of political elites. The MP from UKROP said it in the program “The first about the main things” (Pershi pro golovne) on the air of ZIK TV channel.
“This is political elites’ consensus. Corruption, in particular at customs, is profitable for those who have actually usurped power and with their actions hinder Ukraine’s development for years,” said Vitaliy Kupriy. According to the MP, many importing companies have to use “grey” schemes for import of goods into Ukraine’s territory through the so-called shell companies, which pay minimal taxes because of underestimated cost of production in the documents. It is remarkable that the tax agencies of the State Fiscal Service do not check such companies, as they are mostly controlled by the authorities.
Vitaliy Kupriy has added said that recent governmental statements about alleged elimination of corruption schemes at customs is sham, as in every crime there are concrete names and amount of damage caused to the state budget. However, now in Ukraine there are no criminal proceedings against heads of customs offices, not to mention that there are no cases in courts or seized property of corrupt officials.
As quite a doubtful achievement may be considered the increasing revenues to the state budget due to import duties if they are caused by growing imports only. “If import is growing, and there is no export, it results in current account imbalance,” said Vitaliy Kupriy. According to him, the key to effective work of customs is motivation, decent wages and inevitable punishment for the offense, which still cannot be provided by dysfunctional law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities.
