This seems to be be the only explanation for two raids five days apart, in Berdyansk and Kherson, chronicled in front page stories today. ("Return of the Goon Squads/Tax police fire on workers in Berdyansk, wounding four" and "Thugs attack festival crowd in Irpin, injuring three".) In both incidents, government tax police donned masks, flak jackets and used guns in storming two businesses as part of court-sanctioned tax inspections.
In Berdyansk, a YouTube clip showed scared, unprofessional and tentative young police officers in masks trying to stop a group of workers from entering an agricultural complex on Sept. 24. As frightened as they looked, the officers were still dangerous. They fired wildly into a crowd of workers, injuring four, including two seriously enough to be hospitalized.
Then, five days later in Kherson, tax police raided a business and beat up a mayoral candidate seriously enough to hospitalize him.
In neither case did there appear to be any justification for such use of force. Despite official explanations to the contrary, it did not appear that workers in either place were armed or dangerous. In civilized and democratic societies, there is no excuse for this kind of law enforcement – poorly trained officers wearing masks and using excessive force. These are signs of a society in which police are politicized. More likely, this force was employed to settle some business dispute or even to take control of the enterprise.
At an investor conference on Sept. 28, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov lambasted critics for failing to give his government credit for stabilizing the nation and launching reforms. He scolded journalists for negative reporting that is deterring investors.
Poppycock.
There are no “reforms” under way – only a grab to monopolize political power by the Party of Regions. It is not a negative perception that scares away investors. A poor investment climate is the deterring reality. No one’s property or money is safe in this nation. The government and the powerful business cliques who back it use corruption and bureaucracy to stifle fair economic competition.
Tax authorities’ sweeping powers and their willingness to use them may lead to large-scale crackdowns on anyone who disagrees with the ruling powers – much as the State Tax Administration was abused by tax chief Azarov under ex-President Leonid Kuchma.
We wish that life was better for investors, for reasons of national and self-interest. A better investment climate could lift millions of Ukrainians out of poverty. It would also help ensure the future success of the Kyiv Post and every other investor or business in Ukraine who is here to stay. Ignoring reality because of everyone’s wish for a better investment climate is not going to help anyone or make it happen.
