Picasso paintings, Rolex watches, antiques and fine wines: Ukraine lawmakers come clean over assets
A luxury watch collection, millions of dollars in cash and a Picasso painting are just several items listed on Ukraine officials’ income and asset declarations, shocking a country vowing to curb corruption.
They do not trust banks, euro or hryvnia, nor rubles
Officials are required under a new law to declare their assets and income online, a requirement for the disbursement of a US$1-billion loan that Ukraine received in September from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after a delay of more than a year.
The move comes as the ex-Soviet republic, where the minimum monthly salary stands at US$56, attempts to shed its reputation as one of Europe’s most corrupt countries.
More than 100,000 Ukrainian bureaucrats have complied, including President Petro Poroshenko who appears to be one of the nation’s richest officials. Prior to being elected in May 2014 in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Poroshenko headed the Roshen sweets empire.
In his declaration, Poroshenko said he owned more than 100 firms in different countries, including Russia, and had more than US$26 million in various bank accounts.
According to Novoye Vremya magazine, Poroshenko’s wealth amounts to some US$949 million, which would make him Ukraine’s fourth richest man after oligarchs Rinat Akhmetov, Viktor Pinchuk and Igor Kolomoisky. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman meanwhile declared more than US$1 million in cash as well as a watch collection that includes two Rolexes.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov declared three apartments, one measuring 7,100 sq ft, as well as a cellar stocked with 750 bottles of wine. He also listed antiques and art pieces including a Picasso painting.
