Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin stated that there is an understanding that businesses have questions not only to law enforcement agencies, but also to regulatory agencies: the tax service, the State Customs Service, and the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection. Therefore, Kostin once again called on the government to appoint the heads of the State Tax Service and the State Customs Service. He said this during a briefing, according to a correspondent of UNN.
"We understand that business has questions not only to law enforcement agencies but also to regulatory authorities, including tax, customs, and the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection. These are the authorities that also communicate with business. Therefore, I would like to once again ask the government to appoint the heads of the State Tax Service and the State Customs Service. It is very important that business understands the policy of the authority, and the policy is formed by the head," Kostin said.
Addressing Business Ombudsman Roman Vashchuk, Kostin said that it was important that he was talking to the Prime Minister. However, if there was a head of the State Tax Service, it would be enough to talk to him, rather than wait for a meeting with the Prime Minister.
"This is important for business, so it is very important that our voice is heard. We may also involve regulatory authorities in the work," Kostin said.
Kostin noted that when businesses talk about pressure, they should also ask from whose side the pressure comes. From law enforcement or regulatory authorities.
"But for an honest business, any government agency that causes problems is not helpful - it reflects on the attitude to the state as a whole. Any mistake made by any of our bodies is a blow to the reputation of the state as a whole," Kostin said.
Addendum
Anatoliy Amelin, a member of the Board of Fellows at The Aspen Institute Kyiv and director of economic programs at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, stated that business in Ukraine is already desperate and ready to speak publicly about the pressure on entrepreneurs by the tax authorities and security forces. In order for the situation to change, the government must be more open.
Activist Dmytro, who came dressed as a goose to the Mind Entrepreneur Summit 2024 , claimedthat the tax policy shaped by Danylo Hetmantsev, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy, forces entrepreneurs to close their businesses or engage in open confrontation with the MP.