Case description
A group of Chernivtsi Customs officials and other individuals are accused of orchestrating a large-scale customs evasion scheme that resulted in over UAH 83 million in unpaid import duties.
In addition, the case features sanctioned businessman Oleksandr Yerimichuk, former head of Chernivtsi Customs Mykola Salahor, deputy head of the department of this customs office Hennadii Potseluiko, deputy head of the Chernivtsi customs post Mykola Nikulesku, as well as Andrii Remarchuk, Ihor Savka, and Serhii Bilobrytskyi.
According to the investigation, from 2017 to 2019, commercial goods were illegally imported through the Vadul-Siret customs post on the Romanian-Ukrainian border using forged documents. Trucks from Turkey loaded with clothing, footwear, and accessories were declared as empty or covered with goods of low customs value — fabric, chipboard, or bricks.
Customs officials ensured priority clearance based on forged documents without inspection. The actual goods were unloaded in warehouses, and “cover goods” were imported instead, which were processed with minimal customs payments. This allowed the use of reduced or even zero import duty rates. The total losses from “grey” imports are estimated at UAH 290 million.
The HACC approved plea agreements with Yurii Kushnir, Roman Cheban, Yurii Vatrych, and Manolii Fishchuk, who were charged under Article 255(1), Article 212(3), and Article 364(2) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. They were found guilty of organizing deliberate evasion of import duty and VAT totaling more than UAH 83 million through the implementation of three criminal schemes for importing goods into the customs territory of Ukraine while concealing them from customs control.
Cheban, Vatrych, and Fishchuk were sentenced to 5 years of suspended imprisonment with a fine of UAH 255,000 and a 2-year ban on engaging in export-import activities in Ukraine. All defendants were released with a probationary period of 3 years. The bail amounts paid for Cheban, Vatrych, and Fishchuk — UAH 10.9 million — will also be transferred to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Of note, the leadership organized the brutal beating of journalists who attempted to expose the activities of this criminal organization.
Furthermore, Yurii Kushnir is a sanctioned businessman involved in several criminal cases. In 2020, he was also implicated in a bribery case connected to former head of the regional council Ivan Muntian.
