“The White Business Club has been criticized for its discriminatory nature and lack of transparent criteria for selecting participants. In addition, this initiative undermines trust in government institutions and creates an artificial division between entrepreneurs. This opinion was expressed in an exclusive commentary to UNN by Serhiy Dorotych, chairman of the #SaveFOP Movement.
Context
The first list of taxpayers who, in the opinion of the tax authorities, comply with tax legislation in good faith will be published on November 29. It is planned to be published on December 19. The initiative to create a “white business club” belongs to Danylo Hetmantsev, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy. Currently, it is being actively promoted by the acting deputy head of the State Tax Service, Yevhen Sokur, who, according to media reports, is the MP's protege in the tax service.
Creating a “White Business Club” is a wrong way to go. In fact, it means that those who are not on this list are automatically considered “gray” or criminal. This is unacceptable, because we have a declared presumption of innocence. Until the law enforcement agencies or the court establish guilt, any entrepreneur should be considered “white”
He also drew attention to the lack of a transparent mechanism for selecting members of this “club”. “How is it determined who will be included in this list? Why are some companies included and others not? Where are the guarantees that honest micro-entrepreneurs who work every day to provide for their families and generate a small share of GDP will not be labeled as “gray”? I have not found a clear algorithm for how, for example, a sole proprietor can get in? And what about the fact that our sole proprietors are a priori shadowy and scheming?” Dorotych said.
According to Dorotych, this initiative jeopardizes trust in business and the state, as it creates a division that has no logical or legal justification.
“All the actions generated by Hetmantsev are sabotage. It undermines trust in state institutions and demotivates entrepreneurs to work legally. I categorically criticize this practice and will continue to do so,” he emphasized.
Add
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed the scandalous draft law on the “white business club” by the head of the parliament's tax committee, Danylo Hetmantsev. The document was criticized by both Mr. Hetmantsev's colleagues in parliament and experts. Even legal opinions stated that it did not comply with Ukrainian law.
In their comments to UNN , economic experts pointed out that the document violates the Constitution of Ukraine and creates discriminatory conditions in the business environment.
The fact that Hetmantsev's draft law contains discriminatory norms and has corruption risks, is also stated in the conclusion of analysts of the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs.
Business Ombudsman Roman Vashchuk also stated that the draft law on the “white business club” is discriminatory.
In addition, the creation of a “white business club” was recognized as an anti-reform in Ukraine.
Recall
Criminal proceedings have been opened against Yevhen Sokur under Part 3 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, on the fact of abuse of power. The case was opened because on October 26, 2022, he signed an order to revoke Ukrtatnafta's license to produce fuel. Such actions of the tax officer, according to the investigation, caused serious consequences for the company and the state in the form of the inability to fulfill the mobilization tasks of the Ministry of Defense for the production and supply of petroleum products for the needs of defense and defense capability of the state. The State Bureau of Investigation informed UNN that this criminal proceeding is still under investigation.
In addition, according to UNN, Yevhen Sokur allegedly entered inaccurate data in his declaration for 2023. In particular, he did not provide information about his partner in the document. During the investigation into the case of an alleged assassination attempt, Sokur himself told law enforcement officers that since 2016 he had been living with a girl named Alina in an apartment at 6-D Lobanovskoho Avenue. Following a deputy appeal from Nina Yuzhanina, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy, the NACP launched an investigation into Yevhen Sokur . In response to a request from UNN, the Agency also confirmed that they are monitoring the official's lifestyle. Kateryna Butko, head of the Public Council at the NACP, noted that the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption is checking whether Sokur and his partner Alina lived together.
Also, in 2022, he declared income from the sale of securities in the amount of almost UAH 2.6 million, but these funds were not reflected in his declaration for 2023. This may indicate a violation of the law requiring notification of significant changes in property status. According to Article 52 of the Law of Ukraine “On Prevention of Corruption,” the declarant is obliged to report such changes within 10 days. According to Oleksandr Zolotukhin, a member of the National Bar Association, the official may try to explain why he did not declare these expenses by saying that he leads a lifestyle and, for example, likes to eat out.