Oleg Sukhov: Reformer and anti-reformer of the week

By Oleg Sukhov.

Published April 29, 2016 at 12:57 am

Photo by kmu.gov.ua

Reformer of the week: Andriy Kobolev

Andriy Kobolev, chief executive of state oil and gas company Naftogaz, has overseen Ukraine’s efforts to set a unified price of natural gas for households and industry.

The Cabinet on April 27 approved the setting of natural gas prices for businesses and households at the same level, starting from May 1. Previously the prices for households were much lower.

Lower-income residents will receive subsidies to cushion the price hikes.

Kobolev’s efforts to introduce market pricing have reduced economically unjustified consumption and eliminated corrupt schemes that exploited the difference between prices set for businesses and households.

He has also eliminated Ukraine’s dependence on Russian gas, and switched to buying gas from Europe, which has been described as a major victory in terms of national security.

Kobolev became the chief executive of Naftogaz after the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014. He previously worked at auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Anti-reformer of the week: Roman Nasirov

Roman Nasirov, the head of the State Fiscal Service, has been embroiled in a bitter conflict with one of his subordinates, Odesa Oblast customs chief Yulia Marushevska.

Marushevska says Nasirov, an ally of President Petro Poroshenko, has been blocking her efforts to make customs clearance in Odesa faster and corruption-free.

Nasirov and the Security Service of Ukraine have launched several official inspections that have paralyzed the work of Marushevska. On April 26, she called for Nasirov to be fired, while her ally, Odesa Oblast Governor Mikheil Saakashvili, has called him a “thief.” Nasirov’s opponents have published documents showing that he has two undeclared apartments in London. He has also been accused of rebooting corrupt money-making schemes run by ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s allies.

Earlier in April, the Verkhovna Rada’s free speech commission also accused Nasirov of illegally pressuring journalist Savik Shuster for criticizing the authorities. He denies all the accusations.