The Kyiv District Court of Odesa has issued a new ruling authorizing searches of companies operating in the Odesa port. This decision effectively extends a previous ruling of similar content, which had already halted the activities of dozens of businesses that diligently pay taxes, according to KP.ua. The new ruling is valid until February 3, and companies have been unable to operate since December 19, 2024.
According to the publication, detectives from the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), who are effectively seizing property despite only having authorization for searches, reportedly hinted in private conversations about a prearranged extrajudicial decision to block the companies' operations.
Entrepreneurs claim that law enforcement is overstepping its authority. For instance, LLC "ATTOLLO GRANUM," which exclusively provides transshipment services and has no ownership rights to the cargo, has had its activities paralyzed. As a result of the actions of law enforcement, cargo and even vehicles delivering it have been blocked. The owners' rights to manage their property are being disregarded. The company’s operations are regularly monitored by state authorities, including BES, Customs, and the Tax Service.
Dozens of companies are suffering massive financial losses and plan to sue law enforcement agencies. Entrepreneurs suspect that the blockage of operations is linked to pressure on the GNT Group agribusiness holding due to its conflict with creditor Argentem Creek Partners.
"According to entrepreneurs, law enforcement agencies, particularly BES, may be colluding with Argentem Creek Partners, effectively making them participants in a corporate raid and an informational campaign against GNT Group," journalists report.
Meanwhile, Sunolta, the parent company of LLC "ATTOLLO GRANUM," has no ties to GNT Group or its conflict but became a target of a media attack after officially appealing to ACR with a proposal to buy out the debt to continue normal business activities.
According to the publication, market participants claim that ACR’s actions are aimed at satisfying the interests of an unnamed third party interested in gaining control over the Odesa port, particularly acquiring the assets of both GNT Group and Sunolta.
KP.ua recalls that last week, representatives of companies operating in the Odesa port held a major press conference in Kyiv regarding the blockage of their operations. They emphasized that each company is losing up to 750,000 hryvnias per day. Such financial losses directly affect their ability to pay taxes and employee salaries.
At the press conference, it was stated that BES detectives are not conducting any investigative or search actions. The companies have already filed complaints with the President’s Office, the Prosecutor General’s Office, BES of Ukraine, SBI of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Council for Business Support.
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