IMAGE: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
One of the largest newspapers in Germany, Süddeutsche Zeitung, released an article providing a critical look the current economic situation and level of corruption in Ukraine. The article goes contrary to the current trend of praising the pro-western Poroshenko government in the mainstream media.
The article points out a critical economic situation in the country, which urgently needs foreign investments to solve at least part of its problems. However, this kind of investments appears to be unlikely because of a high level of corrpution and dysfunctional justice.
Süddeutsche Zeitung cited economist Olexander Honcharov, who says that the wealth of 100 richest Ukrainians grew 12 times faster than the economy. The 100 richest Ukrainians, some of whom have built their wealth with often dubious maneuvers, control assets of USD37.5 billion – a half of Ukraine’s national debt.
At the same time, the income of ordinary Ukrainians decreased dramatically. Currently, the minimal wage in the counry, according to official data, is 130 EUR. In fact, this wave is even lower.
Despite this, no oligarch or high-ranking official has ended up in prison in Poroshenko’s presidency for corruption or dubious business. There is nothing strange in this. Poroshenko is one of the oligarchs.
