Alona Lebedieva: “Ukraine’s economy has a chance of survival if the authorities do not destroy businesses”

“In the summer of 2023, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal stated that during a full-scale war, Ukraine lost about 30% of its economy and enterprises, along with 3.5 million jobs. By the end of 2023, the Minister of Finance revealed the cost of a day of war – 5 billion UAH. Ukraine’s economy depends on thousands of enterprises and hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs, specifically on the taxes they pay. Business finances the army, the state, and provides a chance for survival,” – convinced Alona Lebedieva, the owner of the Ukrainian diversified industrial and investment group of companies “Aurum Group”.

Alona Lebedieva

She also added that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the situation actually helped business, because the authorities were afraid at that time. When the danger of defeat passed, so did the partnership attitude towards business. The country’s leadership focused on foreign policy and massive challenges, leading to a redistribution in the rear. The security forces were the first to reorient.

“The Prosecutor General’s Office, the National Police, the Bureau of Economic Security, the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation, using martial law, expanding their powers, and lacking accountability, began to “work on” businesses. Law enforcement officers unjustifiably and without a court decision conduct searches, can seize property, confiscate personal belongings such as watches, declared cash, etc., calmly initiate criminal proceedings against top management. This way, they pressured me and my companies”, – continues Lebedieva.

Only recently, she explains, law enforcement officers have been conducting searches at the premises of many well-known businessmen, suspending the operations of crucial enterprises under fabricated cases. This is done either for the purpose of raiding or corrupt pressure. Recent arrests and events at the “Kyivhuma”, Global Spirits, and the !FEST holding companies are indicative. The recent detention of the prominent investment banker Ihor Mazepa, who openly spoke out against law enforcement lawlessness, has pushed the limits. Business has issued an ultimatum to the government – they will go on strike.

“A year and a half ago, when the first actions against me began, I appealed to many partners and business associations to unite and try to stop the pressure on business and this raiding lawlessness. Even then, I warned that such phenomena would take on a mass avalanche character in the future and reach all interesting businesses, but then I was not heard…Today we have the corresponding results”, – says Alona Lebedieva convincingly.

“Whether the government was scared or heard, meetings took place at various levels, and ultimately, the President publicly promised to ‘eliminate all difficulties between government officials, business, and law enforcement.’ So, businessmen canceled the strike for now. But if nothing changes, business will remain silent, and the government will pretend that everything is under control – Ukraine risks losing everything”, – she concluded.

Additional information: On January 18, 2024, employees of the State Bureau of Investigations, during the crossing of the Ukrainian-Polish border, demonstratively detained the well-known Ukrainian businessman Igor Mazepa in a case related to the legality of allocating land for an elite recreation complex, which was built back in 2013, some 10 years ago.

Prior to this, Mazepa openly and systematically criticized law enforcement agencies and judges, accusing some of them of corruption and abuse of power.

The arrest took place just during the days when the World Economic Forum was held in Switzerland, where Ukraine sought comprehensive support, and President Zelensky invited global corporations not to be afraid to invest in our country.

Mazepa’s case caused an extraordinary resonance in Ukraine and the world. As of today, the businessman has been released on bail.

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