Hetmantsev's “watchers” and racketeering instead of law: the brutal truth about the work of the State Tax Service from former head of Khmelnytsky tax office Iryna Zlenko

In an exclusive interview with UNN, the former head of the Khmelnytsky tax office, Iryna Zlenko, spoke frankly about the shocking state of affairs at the State Tax Service of Ukraine. In the conversation, she exposes corruption schemes, talks about the "supervisors" who run the tax office instead of the official leadership, and about the role of the head of the Verkhovna Rada's Tax Committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, in creating this "vertical". Zlenko also shares the facts that testify to the lawlessness, intimidation of employees and management failures that are effectively destroying the country's tax system.

-        Irina, you have previously described the very disappointing situation that has developed in the state tax service of Ukraine. Is it true to say that the activities of the state tax service provided for by law are currently carried out not because of, but contrary to the instructions of the service's management?

What kind of activity do we mean, what kind of activity is being carried out? Organized and criminal? Yes, banditry is exactly what is being carried out, and it is on the instructions of the State Tax Service leadership. If we are talking about the law, there is very little of it, one might say, practically none. There is a lot of evidence of this.

There is an official certificate, which was compiled based on the results of an audit of the National Agency of Ukraine for civil service issues (nags). 100 pages of shameful, incompetent management of acting head of the state tax service Tatyana Kiriyenko and her deputies! 

If you carefully read what exactly is established by our specialists, it is absolutely clear that the management of the tax service, as a state body, is not carried out at all, that is, it is absent. Remember the cartoon about the parrot Kesha when he got to the village and got behind the wheel of a tractor.... He tried so hard to go fast, pressed all the pedals, pulled the levers and flew into the mud – the tractor smokes, wheezes.... Here is a brief overview of what managers in the state tax service of Ukraine are currently doing.

-        You talk about the actual absence of a management vertical in the State Tax Service of Ukraine, and thus the inconsistency of the state policy in the field of taxation. Can you, as a person from within the system, tell us who is really in charge of the tax service now?

It's hard for me to even call it a vertical, in the sense of subordination. There is no such concept at all now. There is now a vertical of "watchers". What exactly do I mean? In the State Tax Service in Khmelnytsky region, the auditor (inspector who oversees the work of the tax audit department - ed.) Yuriy Chumak conducts hearings of all audits. Another auditor, Serhiy Zabashta, who was appointed head of the Khmelnytsky Oblast Tax Service by the acting head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine, Tetiana Kiriyenko, by a forged order (all evidence was handed over to law enforcement agencies), spent almost 6 months working in the office of the head, who has a government special connection! And nobody knew about this from the heads of the State Tax Service of Ukraine?

I personally raised several times the issue that an outsider cannot be in the office without special permits. There was zero reaction! Why? Because everyone doesn't care. The main thing is that the "boy" is in the office and controls the process....

And this is the situation in almost every region that is "interesting" to Getmantsev's boys and personally to him. Vinnytsia-Yuriy Tverdokhleb (acting head of the Regional Tax Service – Ed.), who was kicked out of Chernihiv with a scandal, Odessa – Ruslan Khvan (acting deputy head of the regional tax service).

I am convinced that this is an organized criminal group, I can't call it anything else, sorry.  this group, by the way, as a gas, has a very vertical organization and is headed by the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on finance, tax and customs policy Daniil Hetmantsev. And he directs it with the help of assistants who are members of this bandit formation. There is a department there, but it is a criminal organization that is engaged in racketeering. And if we are talking about the law and the Constitution, then yes, there is no vertical.

-        In previous interviews, you mentioned that you were summoned to the post of head of the Tax Service of the Khmelnitsky region by Hetmantsev before being appointed to the post of head of the Tax Service of the Khmelnitsky region. Tell us more about this meeting. Do people's deputies have the right to such interference in the activities of the Tax Service?

Personally, Tetiana Kiriyenko, after offering to head the Tax Service of the Khmelnitsky region, told me that I should pass an interview with Hetmantsev. She said I should get his background. not written, but I have to talk to him.

I had heard from my colleagues many times before that he was organizing such events... But I had no idea what or with whom I would be communicating.

So, when I arrived at Instytutska Street (in Kyiv, where the Rada's tax committee is located - ed.), I went into the office. There, I was met by an impudent and arrogant man. That was the first impression Hetmantsev made on me.

I had the impression that I had arrived at a shooting range. 

-        Why?

Frankly, because I am met by the chairman of the Tax Committee, a people's deputy, and he is like a tramp.

I was prepared for a professional conversation about working with business... That I would be told that there was some shadow somewhere that I had to remove. For me, the position of the head of the tax committee meant that he was fighting the shadow, as he always publicly says..

I'm still energized, so I felt like, "How many criminal cases are you on?".

I was shocked. After all, there was a man in front of me, a former lawyer, and he believes that he has the right to behave like this. I replied that there was no criminal case against me, and I did not participate in any crimes.... I confirmed my words to him with certificates. It seemed to me that he did not expect from me such pressure, confidence and a bunch of documents that I gave him. Our meeting lasted about 40 minutes.

In the end, he threw me a phrase: "Everything is fine, but make sure I don't regret it." After my visit to the head of the committee, I passed our conversation on to Kiriyenko. And she could not give me an answer as to what Hetmantsev meant and what he had to do with the heads of regional tax offices. But later everything became clear - if this MP is an official representative of the mafia, which I have no doubt about, then why not? From the point of view of the law, this is nonsense. But from the point of view of the mafia... why not?

In general, after the meeting, I had the impression that I was somewhere in the bazaar talking to my uncle.

Then we talked many more times. And all these times, when I came to him, my supervisor was straightforward, she didn't even know it, she wasn't interested.

-        Did he personally call you to the meeting?

Yes, of course. 

-        What was it like? Did he call me on the phone and tell me to come to him

Just so you can imagine, I got Getmantsev's phone number earlier than the phone number of my direct supervisor Tatyana Kiriyenko. He never made a special call, not once. I don't think he even knows how to use it.  but that's another story…

-        The state tax service, like any other state body, is, first of all, an administrative process, that is, a bureaucratic apparatus that is very "tied" to formal rules, competencies, grounds, protocols of actions and decisions. I would like to hear your opinion on the reasons for the situation when employees of a state body follow the instructions of the chairman of the tax committee of the Rada Daniil Getmantsev, who does not have legal administrative power over them?

State power in Ukraine is divided into legislative, executive and judicial branches. The legislative, executive and judicial authorities exercise their powers within the limits established by the Constitution and in accordance with the laws of Ukraine. The fourth power in Ukraine is the media! And I am grateful that thanks to all of you, I am able to fight against the arbitrariness, outrage and lawlessness that Hetmantsev and his cronies have organized.

As for your question, I can only say one thing - Hetmantsev and his henchmen cement complete impunity for corruption of those who obey his bandit instructions, and destroy all those who disagree. There are many examples of this. Here are a few of them.

Loyal auditor from the Kiev Tax Service Dmitry Nefyodov. This wayward kid was detainedon a bribe of three thousand dollars and placed in a pre-trial detention center. Hetmantsev wanted to quietly hush up everything, but the media spread insider information and could not hide anything. A little time has passed and now this "tax figure" works in the state tax service in the Luhansk region. Another example is when the auditor takes a pack of dumplings, and in a package of 2 thousand hryvnias and Hetmantsev literally executes everyone, starting with the first deputy of the region. Therefore, the answer to your question is: intimidated, cornered ordinary employees cannot fail to follow illegal instructions. You know what I mean?

Almost everywhere in the tax office, there are senior positions  - his (Hetmantsev's - ed.) assistants, his students, various young girls who surround Hetmantsev and who have nothing to do with the profession, but are put in responsible positions. That is, real civil servants can be counted on one hand, and if they allow themselves to speak out, they are poisoned and destroyed, as it happened to me.

They just broke off their horns against me, but there aren't many people like me either. Nevertheless, most of the people in responsible positions are Hetmantsev's "assholes".

-        How does the tax service feel about his instructions, because in the end, those who put signatures will be responsible, and not the Hetmantsev who gives oral instructions?

All employees see the impunity of bribe takers-henchmen of Hetmantsev. I've given you some examples. Hetmantsev destroyed almost all professionals with the hands of Sokur and Kiriyenko, as they understood what responsibility they would have for executing criminal orders. They interfered with him…

As I said before, Hetmantsev, not Kiriyenko, is in charge of the tax service. I even have video evidence that he holds conference calls. I was personally present at these meetings. And he behaved so badly with the tax officers, that I was simply offended by it as a tax officer.

-        That is, instead of a formal head, the meeting is held by Hetmantsev, as the head of the Tax Service?

The video parade begins, the manager says, that is, Kiriyenko greets everyone. And then he connects with the Hetmantsev committee. it was connected directly to the shared Zoom.

He has all the data, which is probably normal for the chairman of the committee, about where who has what problems on taxpayers, and so on. He absolutely owns all the information. when I worked in the tax service, I know for sure that the heads of departments sent him all the information in electronic form.

At meetings, he could afford phrases like: "What are you doing there in general? release. Release him. Remove that one. Therefore, review it."  I heard it with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes. 

This behavior of Getmantsev, such an attitude towards the tax authorities led to the fact that, in principle, the Tax Service is now completely collapsed.

-        By your principled attitude, you have demonstrated an example of exemplary behavior of a government official who received an illegal order. What do you think makes other tax employees follow such instructions of the committee, because your example is still the only one?

You know, I'm not the only one fighting these werewolves. There are tax authorities who are ready to give evidence, tell how and why they were dismissed by decisions of disciplinary commissions, or forced to write applications for dismissal at their own request. I am sure that after a certain period of time we will see and hear about all the outrages and bullying of Getmantsev and his henchmen Sokur over Ukrainian businesses and tax employees. My struggle will continue, and I am sure that its results will soon be tangible.

According to my application, on February 9, 2024, criminal proceedings were opened on the fact of illegal appointment by a fake order of Zabashta (to the position of head of the Tax Service of the Khmelnitsky region – Ed.). In addition, on July 29, 2024, a criminal case was initiated due to deliberate failure to comply with the court's decision by Tatyana Kiriyenko.  i also sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine an application with relevant materials, which are reflected in the nags certificate, about numerous systematic violations of the law by the head of the state tax service of Ukraine Tatyana Kiriyenko for studying and initiating disciplinary proceedings to remove her from office.

-        Earlier, with reference to the information of one of the ministries, you pointed out that about 40% of the Ukrainian economy currently operates "in the shadows". What do the tax authorities mean by this term? Are we talking about economic activity with tax evasion or is it a more complex concept?

In fact, now there is actually a parallel tax service, the purpose of which is to earn money for Hetmantsev and his mafia partners. The functions of the state are replaced, and a parallel reality is established. Today it looks like this: businesses raise taxes, appoint a bunch of inspections, make risks (in the list of risky enterprises – Ed.) and other obstacles are created for competitive honest business, and shadow workers are given the "green light" to work. Tax evasion  is only one of the manifestations of the shadow economy.

In May 2024, Hetmantsev said that at least UAH 1.5 trillion is in the shadows, of which, according to him, 500-600 billion UAH can get into the budget. now the media is accelerating the "achievements" of the tax service for 2024 in the form of mobilization of UAH 939 billion to the budget, which Sokur reported. That is, in  The Shadow is actually the second state budget.

In other words, by raising taxes, they have actually declared that they are unable to mobilize the shadow budget. It turns out that the tax authorities have shifted their shortcomings and failed work onto ordinary citizens and white businesses. The consequences are clear. There have already been many statements by experts and MPs on this issue.

That is, citizens are forced to close the hole in the budget and pay for unsatisfactory work of the tax service.

It is worth noting that, for example, revenues from gambling, which are declared by the Tax Service, are UAH 16 billion. but  Igor's debt is more than UAH 100 billion. this is just a horror. What did the tax service do? Nothing. That is, all these achievements and victories crumble at the first approach to them. It all resembles a Christmas tree decoration-it looks very beautiful, but from the inside it is empty and very fragile.

-       One of the most" urgent " issues for businesses in the field of taxation is the blocking/unblocking of tax invoices of enterprises that pay VAT, as well as classifying such enterprises as risky. Previously, you clearly noted that it is impossible for the human factor to interfere in this process due to its full automation. However, in the future, negatively describing the work of regional-level commissions of regional departments of the state tax service, you indicated the appointment of tax authority auditors as their heads (chairmen). What negative trends did you point out and why did you give strong advice to Tatiana Kiriyenko not to allow such appointments, if according to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1165-2019, the commission chairmen are appointed by the order of the territorial body of the state tax service? Should it be understood that the composition of unblocking commissions is actually determined (agreed) by the state tax service of Ukraine? If so, by whom exactly? For example, do we know that this issue is personally supervised by Evgeny Sokur, who is called Getmantsev's right-hand man?

Commissions have been set up in the regions and in the state tax service of Ukraine, which are completely controlled by Sokur. They are illegitimate and all the evidence about this has already been collected. A journalistic investigation was conducted, which revealed that the chairmen of the audit commissions are completely People controlled by Sokur. The lion's share of such people falls on the regions where funds were allocated by Western partners for the construction of fortifications. I don't think it's a coincidence. I am sure that this is a scheme for embezzlement of funds on a large scale.

-        Is it correct to understand that when appointing the heads of such audit commissions, someone in the Tax Service counts on their unconditional loyalty? Do you know any ways to influence the work of commissions (to reach the desired decision) on the part of representatives of the central office of the tax service, in particular Sokur? If the commissions refused to follow Kiev's instructions, what were the consequences?

An example is the Khmelnitsky region. Zlenko did not take into account any illegal instructions received from the central office of the state tax service at all, and Dmitry Beda, who was appointed by Kiriyenko as the head for 3 days, and Zabashta, whom the same Beda appointed by forging an order, are loyal, flexible, and stupid. They had no right to be chairmen of commissions. Other regions are the same situation, so as not to repeat themselves.

-        You noted earlier that Kiriyenko does not decide anything in the tax service. Should I understand that your advice on the composition and work of regional-level commissions is actually addressed to Evgeny Sokur? How does its vertical work in the tax service in general?

In short, Sokur is a gasket between the chair and the phone into which Hetmantsev speaks. Kiriyenko is a mouthpiece that can only repeat Hetmantsev's instructions and commands. That's the whole vertical.

If we recall how he (Sokur – Ed.) was introduced to us Раніше previously, tax managers were gathered and a new head or deputy was officially introduced. And with Sokur there was a complete kapets. We were all just shocked.

Because we had an urgent conference call. This is at a time when someone is in the basement, somewhere the Russians are bombing settlements, somewhere there is no communication, someone's phone is dead…

-        It's the beginning of the year 22, right? 

Yeah.

The conference call was based on video, it was clear that people were in basements with lanterns, somewhere someone was highlighting their phones to someone. i mean the heads of regional departments.

I didn't ask anyone, but it was obvious that some people were getting out of somewhere at that time. I know for sure that the head of one of the regional tax authorities had such an explosive wave that he had only one sneaker left out of his shoes there. this is true. And this person  was also on  the video of the meeting. 

But somehow, everyone was trying to stay in touch. Everyone sat and waited for the meeting like goslings.

The doors opened in the conference room of the state tax service of Ukraine. We can see it. A man came in, sat down, and opened his notebook. He said nothing. He didn't say "Good Day, I'm Sokur", or "good day, I'm Zhenya", or "good day"...

For some reason, his ears were as red as his cheeks... He looked down at his notebook, said that we must carry out the plan, this applies to everyone, closed his book, got up and left.

-        Is that all? 

That's it, passed out. and, you know, everyone was sitting in this state for a while. Then it became clear that we also passed out. we started texting each other. Someone wrote,"I know it's Sokur, we've seen it." 

I went to the STS website, but there is no photo of him. By the way, not yet.

This is so that you understand the vertical of power. A frightened child who was thrown there and told that you should lead. 

They (the leadership of the State Tax Service – Ed.) confuse at meetings of the region, they confuse problems in different areas. That is, what am I leading to? They just don't need it. they have chosen four areas that are very interesting: risks, excise tax, VAT refund, "audit", and they only deal with this. That's what they're interested in. 

These are the areas to which, in principle, they should not be directly related. But they give their own moronic instructions. Not only are they dibil, they are also criminal. And so many people were framed in this way.

As for everything else, they don't even realize that this is the only organism that should work like clockwork. Starting with the office, banal, with incoming correspondence that you have to inspect, and ending only later with decisions, messages to those payers who do not pay taxes.

- Previously, you told about attempts to influence you, as the head of the regional tax service, by individual deputies of the servant of the people faction, without specifying their surnames. Did you mean the Hetmantsev Committee? Have there been similar attempts to influence you on the part of the STS management, if so on whose side?

The so-called leadership of the state tax service of Ukraine, some heads of departments, very strongly advised me to make friends with Sokur. But it's funny. I don't understand what this means, but I know exactly what the consequences of such a friendship are. I don't need it. I have always fulfilled my powers in accordance with the laws of Ukraine.

I'll tell you about another example. We were engaged in a group of companies of businessman Vadim Leivi, a well-known business in the Khmelnitsky region. This group of companies included more than 20 enterprises with a total turnover of UAH 8 billion. we found that they drove  profit and VAT between all their more than 20 companies in order not to pay taxes. They were searched, and BEB accused them in the Lviv region of non-payment of UAH 200 million of excise tax alone.

Hetmantsev was very interested in this topic. We prepared all the references for him, and a meeting of the Committee was scheduled. I arrived, sat there, waiting in the Committee where Hetmantsev's meetings were held, the reception to my left. The door opened, and representative Levy came in, and I was very surprised. He was followed by a people's deputy, and then the heads of departments of the State Tax Service of Ukraine came in.  I squared my shoulders a little bit, because I thought that I was not alone after all, that I had the head of the Committee, I had the directors of the departments, that is, now we will bring them to the clean water. 

But what happened next, I call it the Lynch trial. Especially when the MP got up and said to me, "Irina Vladimirovna, you are not looking for taxes there, these are not the right payers." 

I spoke on the Comitet and made a mustache, I described the whole scheme by name. And here we are in pain, and if the head of the Committee, hanging out my position, hanging out the position of the head of the Department of economic Analysis, Noni Bagmet, I just put my hand in my mouth, I could pay taxes, I could pay taxes, I could pay taxes, I could pay taxes for a little bit, there kolosalni sumi zaborgovanosti... For the whole Head of the committee, I say, "Well, they turn VAT inside themselves, well, someday it will go to the budget. Zlenko, you must  be loyal, find a common language with them.

I looked at representative Levy, you should have seen his expression. He was so happy and happy that the entire tax service was so "mocanuli",  and somewhere – in the Office of the chairman of the committee.

I stood up, folded my papers, and said I had nothing else to talk about. I got up and went out.

-        You told us about an attempt to appoint a "supervisor" for the production of counterfeit cigarettes to the staff of the Main Department of the state tax service in the Khmelnitsky region. Who lobbied for such an appointment and why? Do you think this indicates the existence of collusion and the transfer of part of the profit from illegal production to persons who squeezed the appointment of such a "looker"? And as in other regions of Ukraine, there is also such a situation with "Watchers"? Do you associate them with Hetmantsev and Sokur?

In the Khmelnitsky region, the "boy"-Zabashta, whom I refused to hire, was brought personally by Sokur, accompanied by an employee of the Department of internal security of the state tax service of Ukraine Igor Kustenko, chairman of the trade unions of Tax Service Employees Alexander Kislitsa and Elena Rymar, who was ready to sell her soul to the devil for the sake of the position of head of any department in the state tax service of Ukraine…

Zi his jerel meni vidomo, sho Sokur dear to Khmelnichchini gave me a few hints, I took off without a second glance from my "boss" Getmantsev. I'll tell you the whole truth, who I'm telling you where. I am the first rank of the pratsivnik to lay down. It appears that the horde has piled into the village of Podatkovo, nevidomo, with the rank of a zayshovshi yazygali. What was in their heads? Who was the show designed for?

-        Evgeny Sokur heads the Association of tax advisers created by Daniil Getmantsev. How do you assess their professional abilities as a tax law specialist and manager?

Sokur cannot be a manager. He can't. The Tax Service is a huge body that must work smoothly, clearly, and every employee must understand this and be professionally prepared. The career here should be gradual, the manager should have enough experience and not a few years of experience. That is, there should be a career ladder.and Kiriyenko and Sokur have  a career trampoline. Jumpers.

Kiriyenko for three years has not become a leader who is respected for his professionalism and ability to motivate the team. Now even the heads of regional tax authorities are not familiar with each other, they are not welcome in the corridors of the central administration. This is specially done so that they do not communicate with each other and cannot warn each other about something. But they still communicate…

And the" big-eared " (as his subordinates call him) Sakura does not need this at all. It has enough of several "interesting" departments - excise tax, risks, VAT and all.... Why more. Analyzing his speeches, or what he just reads from a piece of paper, I can say - a wayward loser!!!

-        According to our information, the state Bureau of Investigation opened criminal proceedings against  Yevhen Sakur  for illegally revoking the license of Ukrtatnafta. According to the investigation, he thus prevented the provision of fuel and lubricants to the army, and this was in 2022, when a large-scale war began. How do you assess such actions?

I am very concerned about his health. The government will change, and he knows a lot. And I've done even more bad things.

Together with Hetmantsev, they mocked not only Ukrtatnafta, but there are at least a few other examples. Now almost all their criminal actions have been canceled in courts of various levels. Business suffers huge losses because of these "henchmen". And the budget of Ukraine does not receive millions of taxes. During a large - scale invasion, this is called looting, and those who prove the country in this way are looters. They must answer for the damage they cause to both business and the state as a whole.

-        Now the investigation of this case is not moving in any way. Can we say that Sokur has a political roof?

Now Sokur and his" eared pencils " are under the protection of Hetmantsev. Everyone knows that. But when there are changes, I would not be surprised at all if Hetmantsev himself  gets rid of Sokur for obvious reasons.

Recall

Criminal proceedings for an official crime are being investigated against Yevgeny Sokur. This Case was opened by the state Bureau of Investigation on November 4, 2022 under Part 3 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, on the fact of abuse of office by Sokur, who on October 26, 2022 signed an order to cancel the license of PJSC "Ukrtatnafta" for fuel production. Such actions of the official, according to investigators, entailed serious consequences for society, as well as for 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 the state's defense capability. The state Bureau of Investigation informed UNN that this criminal proceeding is still being investigated.

In addition, the NACP monitors the lifestyle of Yevgeny Sokur. According to UNN, he entered in the declaration for 2023 probably false data. In particular, he did not indicate in the document information about his cohabitant. Earlier, during the investigation into the alleged attempt on his life, Sokur himself told law enforcement officers that since 2016 he has been living with a girl named Alina in an apartment on Lobanovsky Avenue, 6-D. However, Sokur never mentioned his cohabitant in his declarations. After the deputy appeal of Nina Yuzhanina, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on finance, tax and customs policy, the NACP began an audit against Yevgeny Sokur. The agency, in response to a request from UNN, also confirmed that it is monitoring  the official's lifestyle. Chairman of the public council under the NACP Kateryna Butko noted that the National Agency for the Prevention of corruption checks whether Sokur and his cohabitant Alina had a common life.

Also in 2022, he declared income from the sale of securities in the amount of UAH 2.6 million, but these funds were not reflected in his declaration for 2023. This may indicate a violation of the law that requires reporting significant changes in the property status. According to Article 52 of the law of Ukraine "on prevention of corruption", the declarant is obliged to notify about such changes within 10 days.