Tarasov Warns of Investor Concerns Over Law Enforcement Pressure on Business in Kyiv Post Column

Ukrainian agribusiness entrepreneur Serhiy Tarasov, in a column for Kyiv Post published during the World Economic Forum in Davos, said that foreign business leaders and investors are expressing concern over the situation surrounding pressure on businesses in Ukraine.

In the article, Tarasov notes that, based on his observations, international partners are paying close attention to prolonged criminal proceedings that remain without substantive court consideration, as well as to the lack of predictable procedures, which they believe negatively affects the investment climate.

As an example, the author refers to his own case. Earlier, media outlets reported that, according to the defense, criminal proceedings involving his companies have been ongoing for nearly three years. The publication states that the defense links these actions to the position of Deputy Head of the Office of the President Oleh Tatarov, as well as to the actions of officials of the National Police of Ukraine.

The article also mentions Oleksandr Veselov, whom the defense describes as a person allegedly involved in a fraudulent scheme aimed at unlawfully seizing the assets of the I&U Group agribusiness holding.

In addition, Tarasov reports that while in Davos he met with Chrystia Freeland, former Minister of Finance of Canada and newly appointed adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to whom he conveyed facts and the names of individuals whom, according to him, the defense considers to be involved in unlawful attempts to take over the assets of his business.