INTHESPOTLIGHT
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
CONTENT
1.Topnews…page5
2.ArmedconflictinUkraine`seast…page5
Russiabuildingupforcesforoffensive-NATO
NormandyFourleadersdiscussUkrainianconflictonphone
USAreadytojointalksonUkraineconflictinNormandyFourformat
RussiaappointsnewrepresentativetoDonbascontactgroup
EUreadytosendcivilianassessmentmissiontoDonbas
3.Crimeanissue…page6
UkrainiancourtarrestsCrimeanex-lawmakeronsuspicionoftreason
EU,UkrainianleadersagaincondemnRussianannexationofCrimea
CrimeanauthoritiescontinuetosummonCrimeanTatarsforquestioning
Crimeaamongfiveworldregionswithworstconditionsformassmedia,says
FreedomHouse
CrimeacutofffromSWIFTfinancialnetworksystem-massmedia
UkrainianForeignMinistrysendsRussiaprotestnoteoverpremier'svisitto
Crimea
4.Internationalpolitical…page7
Ukraine-Russia
RussianauthoritiesfreezeassetsofRoshencompany'sLipetskfactory
FifteenRussiansapplyforpoliticalasyluminUkrainesincebeginningof2015
EuropeanParliamentdemandsRussiareleasejailedUkrainianpilot
Ukraine-EU
Ukraine-EUsummitheldinKiev
UkrainiangovernmentreportsonimplementationofEUassociationagreement
UkraineimplementssecondphaseofactionplanonEUvisaliberalization-
ForeignMinistry
AustriancourtdeniesUSrequesttoextraditeUkrainiantycoon
Ukraine-USA
2
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
USCongresscommitteeapproves200mdollarsforprovidingweaponsto
Ukraine
Ukraine-NATO
Ukraine,NATOagencysigncooperationagreement
5.Domesticpolitical…page10
Ukrainiangovernmentannouncesnewpensionreform
FirtashtakescreditforbackingKlitschko'sUDAR
UkrainehonoursmemoryofOdessatragedyvictims
SecurityServiceofUkrainedetainssuspectsinorganizingterroractsinKharkiv
Budgetreceivesonly230dollarsofex-president'scronies'arrestedfunds-
media
Lyovochkin'ssisterfacescriminalcase
6.Media…page12
Firtash'sEuronewsTVlicensedforbroadcastingbynationalcouncil
EightjournalistskilledinUkrainein2014
7.Economy…page13
Pro-UkraineconferenceheldinKiev
Japantogive1.8bn-dollaraidtoUkraine
Ukraine'spublicdebtgrowsby7bndollars
Ukreximbankgetsthree-monthdeferralonEurobonds
WorldBankworsensUkraine'sGDPforecast
Consolidatedbudgetsurplusreaches14bnhryvnyasinfirstquarter
NationalBankgrowsprofitalmostseven-fold
Majorretailchainsfinedforpricefixing
Ukraineraisesutilityrates
8.Energy…page14
Naftohaz'sclaimsagainstGazpromclimbabove16bndollars
EuropeforwardsgastalkproposaltoRussia,Ukraine
Naftohazmakes40m-dollarprepaymenttoGazprom
3
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
Ukraineexcludesrebel-heldterritoriesfromgasbalance
UkrainesuspendselectricityimportsfromRussia
Naftohaz'slossgrowsto3.9bndollarsin2014
Naftohazcutsgassuppliestodebtors
Presidentsignsgasmarketlaw
Courtarrests500mcu.m.ofgasbelongingtoUkrainiantycoon
AustrianAMICEnergyclosesdealtobuyLukoil-Ukraine
Ukrtatnaftaboostsnetprofitby38percent
MajorwildfireoccursinChernobylzone
Internationaldonorsprovide180meurosforcompletingShelterfacility
4
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
1.TOPNEWS
Ukraine-EUsummitheldinKiev
BrusselsandKievhaveaffirmedtheunityoftheirstancesonRussianpolicyagainst
Ukraine.
YoucanfindmoredetailsinthesectionsCRIMEANISSUEandINTERNATIONAL
POLITICAL.
AustriancourtdeniesUSrequesttoextraditeUkraine'stycoon
TheUkrainianoligarchhassaidthathehadpromotedVitaliyKlitschkoasa
presidentialcandidateandsupportedhisparty.
YoucanfindmoredetailsinthesectionsINTERNATIONALPOLITICALandDOMESTIC
POLITICAL.
CrimeanauthoritiescontinuesummoningMajlisactivistsforquestioning
FreedomHousehasreportedthatCrimeaisoneoftheworstpartsoftheworld
whenitcomestothefreedomofpress.
YoucanfindmoredetailsinthesectionCRIMEANISSUE.
2.ARMEDCONFLICTINUKRAINE'SEAST
Russiabuildingupforcesforoffensive-NATO
Russia'smilitarymaybetakingadvantageoftherecentcease-fireineastern
Ukrainetolaythegroundworkforanewmilitaryoffensive,PhilipBreedlove,
NATO'sLandForcesCommanderinEurope,hassaid.
OleksandrZakharchenkosaidthatPro-Russianseparatistsplantooccupythe
territoryofDonbascontrolledbytheUkrainianauthorities,theleaderofselfproclaimedDonetskpeople'srepublic.Headdedthatrebelfightersmightneed
Kharkivandothercitiesinorder"todefendtheDonetskland".
ZakharchenkostressedthathewouldallowUkrainianauthoritiestoholdelections
ontheoccupiedterritoryonlyinlinewithlawsoftheDonetskpeople'srepublic.
NormandyFourleadersdiscussUkrainianconflictonphone
On30April,theleadersoftheso-calledNormandyFour-UkrainianPresident
PetroPoroshenko,GermanChancellorAngelaMerkel,FrenchPresidentFrancois
HollandeandRussianPresidentVladimirPutin-participatedinnegotiationsover
thephone.
TheUkrainianpresidentialadministrationhasreportedthattheparticipantshad
supportedaUkrainianproposaltodemilitarizethetownofShyrokyneandtoinstall
thereacheckpointoftheOrganizationforCooperationandSecurityinEurope.
Additionally,theadministrationstressedthatRussiahadagreedtoapeacekeeping
missioninDonbas.However,thespokespersonforRussianPresidentVladimir
Putin,DmitriyPeskov,deniedthisreport.
5
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
USAreadytojointalksonUkraineconflictinNormandyFourformat
TheUSAisopentoparticipationinthenegotiationsonthesettlementofthe
conflictintheeastofUkraineandisreadytojointheNormandyFourformatif
otherparticipantsagreetoit,theUSassistantsecretaryfortheBureauof
EuropeanandEurasianAffairs,VictoriaNuland,hassaid.
RussiaappointsnewrepresentativetoDonbascontactgroup
On27April,RussianPresidentVladimirPutinappointedspecialenvoy
AzamatKulmukhametovasaRussianrepresentativetothecontactgroupfor
thesettlementoftheDonbassituation.RussianambassadortoUkraineMikhail
Zurabovhadpreviouslyservedonthispost.
Previously,KulmukhametovworkedasRussianambassadortoKuwaitand
Syria.
EUreadytosendcivilianassessmentmissiontoDonbas
TheEUisreadytosendacivilianassessmentmissiontoDonetskandLuhansk
regions,whichwouldhelptodeterminethenextstepsfortheimplementation
ofsecuritypolicy,theEuropeanCouncilpresident,DonaldTusk,saidinKievon
27April.
HestressedthatsendinganEUmilitarymissiontoDonbashadnotbeen
discussed.
AspecialenvoyoftheUkrainianForeignMinistry,DmytroKuleba,tolda
roundtableorganizedbytheGorsheninInstitutethatapeacekeepingmissionto
Donbas,onwhichUkrainehasbeeninsisting,wasnotanalternativetothe
Minskagreementsbutameanstowardstheirimplementation.
3.CRIMEANISSUE
UkrainiancourtarrestsCrimeanex-lawmakeronsuspicionoftreason
On29April,theKievPecherskyydistrictcourtdecidedtodetainformer
CrimeanSupremeCouncillawmakerVasylHanyshfor60daysasapreventive
measure.Heissuspectedoftreason.
TheUkrainianProsecutor-General'sOfficedeclaredwanted76formerCrimean
lawmakerswhoaresuspectedoftreasonand,morespecifically,ofassistinga
foreignstatetocarryoutsubversiveactivitiesagainstUkraineandofpublic
callsforchangeofthestatebordersofUkraine.
EU,UkrainianleadersagaincondemnRussianannexationofCrimea
TheEUandUkrainianleadershaveonceagaincondemnedtheillegal
annexationofCrimeabyRussiainajointstatementissuedafterthe17th
Ukraine-EUsummit,whichwasheldinKievon27April.
TheleadersexpressedconcernoverthecontinuousincreaseoftheRussian
militarypresenceintheCrimeanpeninsula.
6
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
Additionally,thesidesnotedthedeteriorationofthesituationwithfreedomof
pressandminorityhumanrightsinCrimea,andurgedtheself-proclaimed
Crimeanauthoritiestograntinternationalorganizationsaccesstothepeninsula
inordertomonitorhumanrights.
YoucanfindmoredetailsabouttheUkraine-EUsummitinthesection
INTERNATIONALPOLITICAL.
CrimeanauthoritiescontinuetosummonCrimeanTatarsforquestioning
TheCrimeaninvestigationcommitteecontinuedtosummonleadersandactivists
oftheCrimean-Tatarself-styledgovernmentMajlisforquestioninglastweek.In
particular,thefirstdeputyleaderoftheMajlis,NarimanDzhelyalov,the
chairmanoftheMajlissecretariat,DylyaverAkiyev,andotherswereamong
thosequestioned.
TheywerequestionedoverclashedbetweenCrimeanTatarsandpro-Russian
activistson26February2014.
Crimeaamongfiveworldregionswithworstconditionsformassmedia,
saysFreedomHouse
TheCrimeanpeninsula,whichhasbeenannexedfromUkrainebyRussia,belongs
tothefiveworldregionswiththemostunfavourableconditionsformassmedia
work,areportoftheinternationalNGOFreedomHousehasread.
TheorganizationnotedthatUkrainehadimproveditsindicators,movingupfrom
thecategoryof"notfree"to"partlyfree".
CrimeacutofffromSWIFTfinancialnetworksystem-massmedia
WesternbanksrefusetocarryoutfinancialpaymentsthoughtheSWIFTsystem
forresidentsoftheCrimeanpeninsula,whichhasbeenannexedfromUkraineby
Russia,theRussiannewspaperVedomostihasreported.
ThesameappliestopaymentsofcompaniesthatareregisteredinCrimea.
UkrainianForeignMinistrysendsRussiaprotestnoteoverpremier'svisitto
Crimea
TheUkrainianForeignMinistryhassentRussiaanoteofprotestoveravisitof
RussianPrimeMinisterDmitriyMedvedevtooccupiedCrimea,whichtookplace
on27AprilandwasnotagreedwiththeUkrainianauthorities.
TheministrysaidthatsuchvisitsofRussianofficialsareviewedasdeliberate
actionsdirectedatanintentionalescalationinbilateralrelationsandthe
demonstrationofdisrespecttonormsofinternationallaw.
4.INTERNATIONALPOLITICAL
UKRAINE-RUSSIA
RussianauthoritiesfreezeassetsofRoshencompany'sLipetskfactory
On28April,theRussianInvestigationsCommitteefrozeassetsofUkrainian
7
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
PresidentPetroPoroshenko'sconfectionarycompanyRoshenintheRussiancity
ofLipetskworth2bnroubles(38mdollars)until13September.
Atthesametime,taxauthoritiescontendthatthecompany,againstwhichacriminal
casehasbeenlaunched,owesthem180mroubles(3.4mdollars).Roshenisaccused
ofclaimingillegalVATrefunds.
FifteenRussiansapplyforpoliticalasyluminUkrainesincebeginningof2015
Sincethebeginningof2015,15Russiancitizenshaveappliedforpoliticalasylumin
Ukraine,theUkrainianStateBorderServicehasreported.Onlyoneapplicanthas
beendeniedtherequest.
WeshallremindyouthatUkrainianPresidentPetroPoroshenkohassaidthat
UkrainewouldgrantpoliticalasylumtoRussiancitizenswhowerepersecutedfor
politicalreasonsintheirhomeland.
EuropeanParliamentdemandsRussiareleasejailedUkrainianpilot
On30April,theEuropeanParliamentadoptedaresolutiondemandingthatthe
RussianauthoritiesreleaseaUkrainianpilotandamemberoftheUkrainian
delegationtotheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope,Nadiya
Savchenko,whohasbeenillegallyheldinadetentionfacility.
ThedocumentalsourgedRussiatofreeotherUkrainiancitizens,including
filmmakerOlehSentsovandasonoftheformerleaderoftheCrimeanTatarselfstyledgovernmentMajlis,MustafaDzhemilyev,Khayser.
Wewouldliketopointoutthaton29April,Savchenkowastransferredfromthe
detentionfacility'smedicalunittoaMoscowcityhospitalduetothedeteriorationof
herhealth.However,on30April,sheaskedtobereturnedtothedetentionfacility,
andtherequestwashonoured.ThelawyeroftheUkrainianpilotsaidthatthe
conditionsinthehospitalwereconsiderablyworsethaninthedetentionfacility.
UKRAINE-EU
Ukraine-EUsummitheldinKiev
On27April,the17thUkraine-EUsummitwasheldinKiev.TheEUwasrepresented
byEuropeanCouncilPresidentDonaldTuskandEuropeanCommissionPresident
Jean-ClaudeJuncker,whileUkrainewasrepresentedbyitsPresidentPetro
Poroshenko.
Inajoint statementissuedafterthesummit,theleadersaffirmedtheunityoftheir
stancesontheRussianpolicyagainstUkraine.TheEUandUkrainianleadersalso
calledfortheaccelerationoftheimplementationoftheMinskagreementsurgedall
thesidestoimplementtheMinskagreementsquicklyandfully,aswellasstressed
thatitwasMoscow'sresponsibilitytodoso.
Wewouldliketopointoutthatduringthesummit,PoroshenkocalledonEuropeto
recognizeUkraine'srighttobecomeamemberoftheEU.HesaidthatUkraine
shouldbeabletosatisfyalltherequirementsforapplyingtotheEUmembershipin
fiveyears.HealsoexpressedhopethattheEUwouldgrantUkrainiancitizensvisafreetravel.
8
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
Fortheirpart,theEuropeanleadersurgedtheUkrainianauthoritiestospeedup
theimplementationofreforms.
Accordingtoexperts,amongthemajorachievementsofthesummitwasthe
agreementinprinciplebetweenKievandBrusselsthatfreetradebetween
UkraineandtheEUwillbelaunchedfrom2016.
Atthesametime,analystssaythattheUkrainianleadershipvoicednonew
messagesduringthemeeting.Particularly,therewerenostatementsregarding
theprospectsforUkraine'smembershipintheEUandvisaregimerelaxation.
UkrainiangovernmentreportsonimplementationofEUassociation
agreement
On27April2015,thegovernmentofficeforEuropeanintegrationpublisheda
reportontheimplementationoftheagendaonassociationandimplementation
oftheEUassociationagreementbyUkraine.
Thedocumentdescribesevents,whichwereplannedandheldfromSeptember
2014toApril2015.Thetextofthereportcanbefoundhere.
UkraineimplementssecondphaseofactionplanonEUvisaliberalization-
ForeignMinistry
UkrainehascompletedthesecondphaseoftheactionplanonEUvisa
liberalizationandexpectstheEuropeanCommissiontopresentitsconclusions
on13May,theUkrainianForeignMinistryhassaid.
UkrainianPresidentPetroPoroshenkosaidthatKievaskedBrusselstodefine
thetermsandconditionsofvisa-freetravelforUkrainians.Inhiswords,the
sidesagreedthatahigh-levelmeetingwillbeheldafterthe12Mayvisitbythe
EUassessmentmissiontoworkoutpreparatorydocumentsaheadoftheRiga
EasternPartnershipsummiton21-22May.
PolishForeignMinisterGrzegorzSchetynasaidthatPolandandRomania
wouldpushforthecancellationofvisasforUkrainiansandGeorgiansatthe
EasternPartnershipsummitinRiga.
Accordingtothedeputyheadofthepresidentialadministration,Valeriy
Chalyy,RussianaggressionisanadditionalargumentfortheEuropeanUnionto
postponetheintroductionofavisa-freeregime.
AustriancourtdeniesUSrequesttoextraditeUkrainiantycoon
On30April2015,aViennaregionalcriminalcourtdeniedtheUSDepartmentof
Justice'srequesttoextraditeUkrainiantycoonDmytroFirtashtotheUSA,and
allowedhimtotraveloutsideAustria.
ThejudgeconcludedthattheUSAdidnotprovidesufficientevidenceof
Firtash'scrime.Thecourtagreedwiththedefenceteamthatthecasewas
politicallymotivated.
Austria'sprosecutor'sofficehasappealedagainstthisdecision.
9
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
FirtashsuggestedincourtthathewasbeingprosecutedbytheUSAbecausehe
didnotsupportYuliyaTymoshenkowhowasallegedlytheUSfavouriteinthe
Ukrainianpresidentialelection.
ThecourtheardthestatementsbyfirstUkrainianPresidentLeonidKravchuk,
OppositionBlocMPsYuriyBoykoandSerhiyLyovochkin,andformerPartyof
RegionsMPInnaBohoslovskaaswitnesses.KievmayorVitaliyKlitschkowas
questionedduringaclosedvideoconference.
TheUSAaccusesFirtashofcreatingacrimeringin2006andconspiringtobribe
Indianofficialsforapermittoextracttitaniumthere.TheUSAgotinvolved
becauseIndiantitaniumissoldontheUSmarket.
TheUkrainianbusinessmanwasdetainedbytheViennapoliceinMarch2014
onawarrantoftheUSFBI.Hewasreleasedpendinganextraditionhearingon
bailof125mdollarspaidbyVasiliyAnisimov,aRussianbusinessmanfrom
PresidentVladimirPutin'sentourage.
Asreportedearlier,FirtashandRussia'sGazpromestablishedtheRosUkrEnergo
companywhichactedasintermediaryinRussiangassuppliestoUkrainein
2004-09.
ReadmoreaboutFirtash'sstatementsincourtinDOMESTICPOLITICAL.
UKRAINE-USA
USCongresscommitteeapproves200mdollarsforprovidingweaponsto
Ukraine
On30April2016,theUSHouseArmedServicesCommitteeapprovedthe
allocationof200mdollarstoprovidetheUkrainianarmywitharmsand
training.
UKRAINE-NATO
Ukraine,NATOagencysigncooperationagreement
On27April2015,UkraineandNATOSupportandProcurementAgencysigned
theagreementoncooperationinsupportandprocurement.
InNATO'swords,thisagreementestablishesaformalframeworkforNSPAtoact
astheExecutingAgentfortwooftheNATOUkraineTrustFunds:Logisticsand
StandardizationandMedicalRehabilitation.
5.DOMESTICPOLITICAL
Ukrainiangovernmentannouncesnewpensionreform
On29April2015,SocialPolicyMinisterPavloRozenkopresentedanew
governmentprojectofpensionreform.
Itcontainsfivekeyprovisions:
10
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
-workingcitizensfinancepensions;
-specialpensions,exceptpaymentstoservicemen,areliquidatedasof2016;
-afundedplan,whenaworkingcitizenfundshisorherownfuturepension,is
introducedasof2017;
-aprofessionalpensionsystemisintroducedwithintheframeworkofthe
fundedsystem;
-non-governmentpensioninsuranceisintroduced.
Thegovernmentalsoagreedapackageofbillsregulatingtheintroductionofthe
newpensionsystemandsentittoparliamentforconsideration.
FirtashtakescreditforbackingKlitschko'sUDAR
DuringacourthearinginVienna,UkrainiantycoonDmytroFirtashsaidhe
providedsupportforVitaliyKlitschkoandhisUDARpartysince2012because
heconsideredhimanalternativecandidateinthe2015presidentialelection.He
explainedthatthisdecisionwaspromptedbythenPresidentViktor
Yanukovych'srefusaltoimplementreforms.
Inhiswords,theUSAdidnotapproveofKlitschko'scandidacy,allegedly
favouringArseniyYatsenyukandYuliyaTymoshenko.
FirtashalsospokeofhissupportfortheEuro-Maydanpro-democracyprotests
andhisroleindevelopinganagreementbetweentheauthoritiesandthe
oppositionaftertheshootingofprotesters.
HealsoconfirmedreportsKlitschkoleftthepresidentialelectionrunafterhe,
incumbentPresidentPetroPoroshenko,theformerheadofthepresidential
administration,SerhiyLyovochkin,andFirtashmetinVienna."Icansaythat
wehaveachievedwhatwewanted.Poroshenkobecamethepresident,Klitschko
themayor,"hesaid.
KlitschkosaidFirtash'sstatementswereincorrect.Inhisopinion,Firtash's
lawyerchosethisstrategyonpurposetomovehisclient'scasefromeconomic
topoliticaldomain.
UkrainehonoursmemoryofOdessatragedyvictims
MourningceremonieswereheldthroughoutUkrainiancitieson2Maytomark
theanniversaryofthefireintheTradeUnionsHouseinOdessa.
Forty-eightpeoplewerekilledandmorethan200injuredasaresultofmass
riotsandafireintheTradeUnionsHouseincentralOdessaon2May2014.
TheProsecutor-General'sOfficeissuspectingPetroLutsyuk,theformerpolice
chiefinOdessaRegion,ofnegligenceduringthestreetunrestinOdessa.
SecurityServiceofUkrainedetainssuspectsinorganizingterroractsin
Kharkiv
TheSecurityServiceofUkraine(SBU)hasreportedthedetentionof10
membersoftheKharkivPartisansgroupandthreemembersofOplot,whoare
suspectedofpreparingandcommittingterrorattacksinthecity.
11
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
ThesewereUkrainiannationalsledbyRussians,itadded.
TheSBUalsodetainedover30UkrainiansonsuspicionofseparatisminOdessa
andKiev.
Budgetreceivesonly230dollarsofex-president'scronies'arrestedfunds
-media
Inthefirstthreemonthsofthecurrentyear,thestatebudgetofUkraine
receivedonly5,010hryvnyas(230dollars)ofthearrested1.5bnhryvnyas
(68mdollars)ownedbythealliesofex-PresidentViktorYanukovych,the
Ukrainianmediahavereported.
Lyovochkin'ssisterfacescriminalcase
TheProsecutor-General'sOfficehaslaunchedcriminalproceedingsagainst
OppositionBlocMPYuliyaLyovochkina,thesisteroftheformerheadofthe
presidentialadministration,SerhiyLyovochkin,andformerMPsAndriy
KravetsandYuliyaKovalevskafromthePartyofRegions.
Thecaseswereopenedbecausetheyhadregisteredtheirassistantswiththe
parliamentstaffthoughtheydidnotcarryouttheirduties.
OneofLyovochkina'sassistantswasex-PresidentViktorYanukovych's
rumouredpartnerLyubovPolezhay.
6.MEDIA
Firtash'sEuronewsTVlicensedforbroadcastingbynationalcouncil
On29April2015,theNationalCouncilforTVandRadioBroadcastinghas
licensedDmytroFirtash'sInterMediaGrouptobroadcasttheUkrainian
versionofEuronewsTVonsatellite.
InterMediaGrouphasbecomeanexclusivepartnerofEuronewsinUkraine.
On19March,thenationalcouncilcancelledthelicenceoftheNationalTV
CompanyofUkrainetobroadcasttheUkrainianversionoftheEuronews
internationalchannel.
EightjournalistskilledinUkrainein2014
AccordingtotheIndependentMediaTradeUnionofUkraine,eightjournalists,
bothUkrainianandforeign,werekilledinUkrainein2014,whileseveralother
mediaworkerswerekilledalreadythisyear,mostoftheminDonbas.
TheorganizationalsoreportedthatsincetheoutbreakofhostilitiesinDonbas,
morethan40mediarepresentativeswereheldascaptives.Severaljournalists
arestillkeptcaptive.
Themajorityofjournalistswereforcedtoleavetheoccupiedterritories
becauseofthreatstotheirlivesandhealth,whilemanypublicationsceasedto
exist.
12
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
7.ECONOMY
Pro-UkraineconferenceheldinKiev
On28April,aninternationalconferenceinsupportofUkrainewasheldinKiev.
LeadersrepresentingUkraineandothercountriesdiscussedreformswhich
Ukrainiansneedandtheassistance,whichtheinternationalcommunityneedto
grantthemforsuccessfulimplementationofthesereforms.
UkrainianPrimeMinisterArseniyYatsenyuksaidthatintotalUkrainehad
received30bndollarsofinternationalfinancialassistance.Headdedthatthe
countryhopedtoattract3bndollarsindirectforeigninvestmentfromthe
EuropeanBankforReconstructionandDevelopmentandtheEuropean
InvestmentBankbytheendof2015.
Forhispart,UkrainianDeputyPrimeMinisterHennadiyZubkosaidthatthe
governmentneededtospendatleast1.52bndollarsinordertoreconstruct
Donbas,whichhadbeendestroyedasaresultoftheconflict.
Japantogive1.8bn-dollaraidtoUkraine
Japanwillprovide1.8bndollarsinassistancetoUkraine,Japan'sVice-Minister
forForeignAffairsKentaroSonourasaidon27April,beforehisvisittoKiev,
accordingtothepressserviceofthePetroPoroshenkoBlock.
Ukraine'spublicdebtgrowsby7bndollars
ThetotaldirectandguaranteeddebtofUkraineinMarchincreasedby11.9
percent,or6.91bndollars,to65.03bndollars,accordingtotheFinanceMinistry.
Thetotalamountofpublicandpubliclyguaranteeddebtinthehryvnya
equivalentinMarch,comparedtoFebruary,fellby90bnhryvnyas,or5.6percent,
to1,520bnhryvnyas.
Ukreximbankgetsthree-monthdeferralonEurobonds
State-ownedUkreximbankon27Aprilmadeanagreementwithcreditorsto
extendthematurityofitsAprilEurobondsbythreemonths.
InJanuary-March,Ukreximbankshowedalossof4.53bnhryvnyas(206m
dollars),whileinthecorrespondingperiodofthelastyearitpostedaprofitof
63.78mhryvnyas(2.9mdollars).
WorldBankworsensUkraine'sGDPforecast
TheWorldBankhasprojectedthatUkraine'srealGDPin2015willcontractby
7.5percent,ascomparedwithadeclineof6.8percentrecordedin2014.
However,in2016,thecountry'seconomicgrowthcouldreach2percent,
accordingtotheinstitution'sestimate.
Also,theWorldBankexpectsthatconsumerinflationinUkrainein2015will
accelerateto40percent.
Earlier,theIMFandtheWorldBanksaidthatUkraine'sGDPinthecurrentyear
13
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
willdropby5.5percent.
Itshouldbenotedthat,accordingtotheNationalBank,Ukraine'sGDPin
January-March2015fellby15percentcomparedtothesameperiodof2014.
Consolidatedbudgetsurplusreaches14bnhryvnyasinfirstquarter
Ukraine'sconsolidatedbudgetshowedasurplusof13.97bnhryvnyas(635m
dollars)inthefirstquarterof2015,accordingtotheFinanceMinistry.
Theconsolidatedbudgetsurplusfortherespectiveperiodin2014amountedto
469.9mhryvnyas(21.36mdollars).
NationalBankgrowsprofitalmostseven-fold
TheNationalBankhasreportedthatitsprofitin2014totalled96.08bn
hryvnyas(4.37mdollars),or6.5timesmorethanin2013.
Also,itshouldbenotedthattheregulator'stotalassetsasof1Aprilwere
811.16bnhryvnyas(36.87bndollars).Itsliabilitiesincreasedto684.11bn
hryvnyas(31.1bndollars),orby37.8percent.
Majorretailchainsfinedforpricefixing
TheAntimonopolyCommitteeofUkrainehasimposedafineof203.6m
hryvnyas(9.25mdollars)onthelargestretailnetworksforabreachof
legislation.
Accordingtotheagency,thechainsagreedtosubstantiallyinflatepricesof
consumergoods.Theviolationrelatestotheeventsof2010-11,andwas
uncoveredin2013.
Ukraineraisesutilityrates
CentralheatingandhotwaterratesinUkrainegrewby71.5and57percent
respectivelyon1May.
Itshouldberecalledthatpricesofnaturalgas,electricityandcoldwater
suppliesrosesubstantiallyinApril.
8.ENERGY
Naftohaz'sclaimsagainstGazpromclimbabove16bndollars
Thestate-runenergycompanyNaftohazUkrayinyon30Aprilfiledwiththe
StockholmArbitrationTribunalitsclaimsagainstRussia'sGazpromconcerning
thecontractfornaturalgastransitthroughtheterritoryofUkraine(January
2009).
ItshouldbenotedthatthetotalamountofNaftohaz'sclaimstoGazprom
submittedtotheStockholmarbitrationfordamagesandtransitcontract
amendmentscurrentlystandsatmorethan16bndollars.
GazpromofficialSergeyKupriyanovsaidthattheamountoftheRussian
company'sclaimstoNaftohazexceedsKiev'sclaimstoMoscow.
14
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
EuropeforwardsgastalkproposaltoRussia,Ukraine
TheEuropeanCommissionhassentitsproposalsforthetrilateralnaturalgas
talkstoUkraineandRussia,accordingtoVice-PresidentoftheEuropean
CommissionforEnergyIssuesMarošŠefčovič.
EnergyMinisterofUkraineVolodymyrDemchyshynnotedthatthedateofthe
tripartitemeetingcouldbescheduledaftertheUkrainianandRussiansidesgive
theirofficialresponsetotheEuropeanCommission'sproposal.Accordingtohis
estimates,thenegotiationswilltakeplaceinmid-May.
Naftohazmakes40m-dollarprepaymenttoGazprom
Thestate-runenergycompanyNaftohazUkrayinyon28Apriltransferred40m
dollarstoRussia'sGazpromasanadvancepaymentfornaturalgassupplies.
TheamountofadvancepaymentsforApril'sRussiangassuppliesmadeby
Naftohaz,withoutthelatesttransfer,was70mdollars.
Ukraineexcludesrebel-heldterritoriesfromgasbalance
NaturalgasdeliveriestoconsumersintheterritoriescontrolledbytheproRussianseparatistsarenotprojectedinthesecondquarterof2015,according
totheforecastbalanceforreceiptanddistributionofnaturalgasin2015,
approvedbythegovernmenton15April.
Inthefirstquarter,gassupplytotheself-proclaimedDonetskandLuhansk
people'srepublicswas0.41bncu.m.
Ingeneral,accordingtothedocument,Ukrainewillrequire54.24bncu.m.ofgas
in2015,including19.54bncu.m.ofdomesticallyproducedgas,25.99bncu.m.of
importgas,8.69bncu.m.tobewithdrawnfromundergroundstorages,and
0.03bncu.m.tobetakenfromgaspipelines.
Pumpingofgasintoundergroundstoragefacilitiesisprojectedat13.9bncu.m.
UkrainesuspendselectricityimportsfromRussia
Duetoadecreaseinconsumption,Ukrainehasstoppedbuyingelectricityfrom
Russia,thestate-runcompanyUkrenerhohassaid.
Atthesametime,thecompanynotedthatthesituationcouldchangeinthe
summer,becauseduringthatperiodthemaximumpowerconsumptionshould
reachconsumptionvolumesseeninthewinter.
Naftohaz'slossgrowsto3.9bndollarsin2014
Thestate-runenergycompanyNaftohazUkrayinyshowedalossof85bn
hryvnyas(3.9bndollars)in2014whileitsrevenuewas74.4bnhryvnyas(3.4bn
dollars).
Ayearearlier,Naftohazpostedalossof18bnhryvnyas(818mdollars)on
revenuesof75.9bnhryvnyas(3.45bndollars).
15
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
Naftohazcutsgassuppliestodebtors
Thestate-runenergycompanyNaftohazUkrayinysaidon27Aprilthatitwould
discontinuenaturalgassuppliestobusinesseswithdebtsforconsumedgas.
Asof24April,enterprisesgeneratingelectricpowerandheatenergyhad
21.9bnhryvnyas(995mdollars)ingasdebttoNaftohaz.Comparedwiththe
year'sbeginning,thisamountincreasedby69percent.
Naftohaz'slargestdebtorisKyivenerhoownedbyRinatAkhmetov.The
companyowes3.7bnhryvnyas(168mdollard)forgasitconsumed.
Presidentsignsgasmarketlaw
PresidentPetroPoroshenkoon30Aprilsignedalawonthenaturalgas
market.
Thedocument,amongotherthings,obligesregionalgasdistributioncompanies
(mostofwhicharecontrolledbybusinessmen,includingDmytroFirtash)to
payfortheuseofpublicgasdistributionnetworks.
Courtarrests500mcu.m.ofgasbelongingtoUkrainiantycoon
TheKievPecherskyydistrictcourton29Aprilarrested500mcu.m.ofnatural
gas(worth3.6bndollars)whichbelongstoOstchemHoldingofDmytroFirtash
andisstoredinthefacilitiesofUkrtranshaz,astate-ownedcompany,under
criminalproceedingsconcerning5.7bnhryvnyas(259mdollars)embezzlement
byofficialsofthestate-runcompanyNaftohazUkrayiny.
AustrianAMICEnergyclosesdealtobuyLukoil-Ukraine
AustriancompanyAMICEnergyManagementGmbH(AMIC)hasacquiredfrom
Russia'scompanyLukoil100percentofthesharesinLukoil-Ukraine,which
owns240petrolstationsandsixoiltankfarmsontheterritoryofUkraine.
Ukrtatnaftaboostsnetprofitby38percent
Ukrtatnafta(operatestheKremenchukrefineryinPoltavaregion)in2014
increaseditsnetprofitby37.8percentincomparisonwith2013,to358m
hryvnyas(16.27mdollars),thecompanyhasreported.
Itshouldberecalledthat43.05percentofsharesinUkrtatnaftaareownedby
thestate-runenergycompanyNaftohazUkrayiny,whilePrivatGroupofIhor
Kolomoyskyy,andbusinessmanOleksandrYaroslavskyyown28percent
each.Thecompany'smanagementiscontrolledbyPrivatsinceOctober2007.
MajorwildfireoccursinChernobylzone
Awildfirecovering400hectaresoccurredintheChernobylzoneon28April.
Ukraine'semergencyservicesmanagedtostopthefireonlyafterafewdays,just
fivekilometresawayfromaradioactivewastestoragefacility.
AccordingtotheStateServiceforEmergencySituations,thefirewasset
intentionallyorwasaresultofcarelesshandlingoffire.TheInteriorMinistry
16
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved
INTHESPOTLIGHT
ISSUE58(221)
05/04/2015
hasopenedcriminalproceedingswithregardtotheincident.
ExpertssaythatthebackgroundradiationinChernobylandinotherUkrainiancities
iswithinthenorm.
Internationaldonorsprovide180meurosforcompletingShelterfacility
TheG7statesandtheEuropeanCommissionhavedecidedtoallocate165meuros
forthecompletionofanewconfinement(Shelterproject)attheChernobylnuclear
powerplant,theEuropeanBankforReconstructionandDevelopmenthassaid.
Inaddition,severalothercountriesmadeacommitmenttoallocate15meurosin
total.Inparticular,Finlandwillprovide2meuros,Kazakhstan–1meuros.
Thus,thefundinggapwasreducedto85meuros.
Itshouldberecalledthatthetotalprojectcostis1.4bneuros.
FoundedinJuly2010,GorsheninWeeklyisaweeklydigestofexpertanalysiscovering
themostimportantpolitical,socialandeconomiceventsinUkraine.Itisthekey
sourceofinformationaboutopinionpollscarriedoutbytheGorsheninInstituteas
wellasthebestprofessionalcommentariesonrecentdevelopments.
GorsheninWeeklyisavailableinRussianandEnglish.
GorsheninWeeklyhasover1000subscribersintheEU,theUSA,Russia,Ukraineand
othercountries.Itsregularcustomersarerepresentativesoftheembassies,the
EuropeanCommission,theEuropeanParliament,theUSDepartmentofState,leading
internationalanalyticalcentres,Ukrainianandinternationalmassmedia.
IfyouwishtosubscribetoGorsheninWeeklypleasesendyourrequesttothefollowing
e-mailaddress:[email protected].
Ourcontactinformation:
18bMalaZhytomyrskast.,
Kiev01001,Ukraine
+380442304962
+380442304966f
[email protected]
Formoreinformationpleasevisitourwebsite
http://gorshenin.eu/
17
©GorsheninInstituteMay2015Allrightsreserved