In a revealing speech, followed by a question-and-answer segment, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov admitted to an audience gathered by the Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine that government ministers steal.
His remarks came in March 16, 2009, when Azarov was a parliamentarian who headed the Verkhovna Rada’s budget committee.
Here are key translated excerpts from his remarks last year:
Azarov: “Where do holes in the budget come from?… Let’s start by taking a look at state monopolies, for example our very own [state-owned monopoly] Naftogaz. Naftogaz is a system that provides natural gas to enterprises and the general population and the state communal services sphere. It has received Hr 35 billion in government credit over the last three months, including Hr 11 billion from the state national bank (Oshchadbank). Hr 25 billion of the amount is in short-term credits it has to pay back in 2009. This raises the question: ‘What kind of a monopoly is this when it can’t finance itself or contribute to the state budget?’ It is necessary to establish elementary order at Naftogaz. You can steal, but steal only 5 percent of this amount.””
“[Steal] 5 percent and the hell with you’ because there is no way you can track this money down, but please, don’t steal 50 percent. Show some conscience.”
– Mykola Azarov, Ukraine’s prime minister.
[laughter in the room]
“Why are you laughing? When I worked as finance minister [from 2002-2004 and again in 2006-2007] I sometimes told my ministers: ‘Have a conscience. [Steal] 5 percent and the hell with you’ because there is no way you can track this money down, but please, don’t steal 50 percent. Show some conscience. The same is true with other state monopolies, such as the transportation sector … the railway system, Energoatom, etc. This is why I say Ukraine has untapped resources … [that can be squeezed] to dig itself out of a hole.”
