Who will profit from the final plunder of Ukraine? – Experts on the new wave of privatization

A large-scale program of sale of state property by the rulers of Ukraine will enrich the clans of oligarchs in power, according to Kyiv experts interviewed by PolitNavigator.

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Viktor Suslov, former Minister of Economy of Ukraine:

“I don’t think Western companies are interested in participating in privatization. Among the objects put up for privatization by the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of May 12, there are very attractive objects - the Odessa Port Plant, etc.

Of course, the timing for privatization was chosen extremely poorly - it is impossible to obtain real prices for these objects; they will have to be sold at very large discounts. There is no vital need to sell these objects at such discounts. Serious businesses do not sell their properties at such a time.

I heard from some government representatives that money is not the most important thing, but when a country is close to default, money is very important, and it is precisely money that is the main thing in this situation.

If objects are sold at low prices and without the participation of real foreign investors, then this is done because it is beneficial to someone. Most likely, they will be distributed among representatives of various business groups and sold at low prices.

This has already happened many times in the history of Ukraine, and we will not see anything new. Almost every new government strives to make money. I cannot say what will go to whom, but I understand that even those who are called oligarchs are now experiencing very big problems with money. All of them have large obligations and do not have the money to purchase such objects at realistic prices. But they can buy them at low prices, including for the purpose of resale in the future.”

Vladimir Kornilov, director Center for Eurasian Studies:

"As with any privatization, those who are now at the helm, at the cutting edge, and those who will directly influence the results of all kinds of privatization tenders will benefit. This has always been the case in Ukraine and, of course, no exception to this rule will be made now.

Of course, now the people who most want privatization are Poroshenko, people associated with Yatsenyuk and, of course, Kolomoisky, which he directly, without hesitation, spoke about more than once. The rest will remain out of work.

As for the West, I don’t think that Ukrainian assets are now attractive to foreign investors - everyone sees how Ukraine behaves in relation to the national debt, and it is clear that it will behave even more rudely towards investors.

If Ukraine does not fulfill its financial obligations to anyone, then where is the guarantee that tomorrow, having invested some funds in this or that enterprise, or won a tender, you will receive at least something? In such conditions, it is impossible to expect that any of the Western investors will be so naive and stupid that they will invest at least something in the Ukrainian economy and take part in privatization.”

Alexander Okhrimenko, President of the Ukrainian Analytical Center:

“Maidan had sponsors with whom it was necessary to pay off. Naturally, they will receive bonuses from privatization. Any revolution presupposes a redistribution of property. The problem is how to divide without offending anyone.

I don’t think any of the Western investors will get anything - no one will let them in. They are not needed at this holiday. Although, perhaps, some offshore companies will participate. But today, a real foreign investor will not invest a cent in Ukraine, if only because money is invested only in those countries where there is stability.

In addition, the business must generate income. But in our country, everything is structured in such a way that a business needs to be in the chain, otherwise it simply won’t work. You can simply buy an object only for the purpose of resale to one of the oligarchs. Therefore, only our own people can participate in privatization.”