Ukraine on Monday announced that it used wartime authorities to seize ownership of “strategic companies” as the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to consolidate power under martial law.
The Ukrainian government seized control of five companies, including the country’s top oil producer Ukrnafta, and MotorSich, an aircraft engine maker.
The companies were controlled by some of Ukraine’s wealthiest and most powerful businessmen. According to Reuters, Zelensky’s government has long sought to curb their political power.
“As of today, the specified assets are managed on behalf of the state and in the interests of the entire security sector — to meet the needs of the Armed Forces and the entire defense sector,” said Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the companies were seized using the power the government was granted in response to Russia’s February 24 invasion. After declaring martial law at the beginning of the war, Zelensky prohibited men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country, banned opposition parties, and nationalized the media.
The seizure of the companies amounted to the most dramatic government intervention into Ukrainian businesses since the war started. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defense council, insisted that the assets would be returned after the war.
“After martial law is lifted, these assets may be returned to their owners or their value may be reimbursed,” Danilov said.
“Ukrainian government seized control of five companies to consolidate power under martial law”– Zelensky, the prancing dictator-wannabe. Hey, doesn’t this remind anyone of a certain character from mid-20th C middle Europe? Very popular, very (oddly) charismatic (essentially) an actor adept at playing on the national mood and pulling country into the maddest actions.
It seems that Biden has convinced most Americans that his support for this authoritarian regime is somehow consistent with Biden’s self-proclaimed image as the world’s foremost “defender of democracy”.
Biden couldn’t defend Democracy if our lives depended on it.
Worse, even if his life depended on it.
This is why it is called OUR democracy. Those evil THEY do not get to mess up OUR democracy.
Yeah. The same pattern repeats itself again and again worldwide over many centuries. Really discouraging.
Yea, human nature doesn’t change, only the toys they get to play with become much more dangerous.
Worrying signs to be sure, hopefully this is just temporary until the Russians are kicked out.
I wonder… did Zelensky apply for but was denied entry into an art school in Vienna at some time? Maybe he was turned down in a bid for a career built on sexually-questionable music videos? Hoes be mad sometime.
Bitches be shoppin. For industries.
“After martial law is lifted, these assets may be returned to their owners or their value may be reimbursed,” Danilov said.
Yes, they “may” be. But maybe not.
“The companies were controlled by some of Ukraine’s wealthiest and most powerful businessmen. According to Reuters, Zelensky’s government has long sought to curb their political power.”
And take their money. That comes first. Easy to take and divvy up. Elementary school math,
This kind of thing serves as bad publicity for Ukraine. Have the Ukrainian Supreme Court confirm Citizens’ United and then companies simply seize the government instead. In which case, democracy is said to be working. Problem solved.
That simplifies everything!
Lol
Good one!
But this is more pedestriam level of behaviuor. The companies are esdentially to be sold on secret auction to Wesyern buyers, to either pay for existing debt ot to raise new money. This will be tge way to have a greed factor involved in this war — not just MIC
It is also a way to break foreign obligations. China invested heavily in one aeronautical company under previous president. To make a point, Ukraine nationslized it last yeat — brfore war— to undermine the existing contract. And to make point complete, accused former owner of treason.
It is a plunder of Ukraine. But investment is not guaranteed. It is another way to portray this as a healthy greed opportunuty — while in fact corporations are just going to be fleeced to pay for war effort.
Ukraine surely copped the capital assets of the companies as well. This type of asset seizure is part of the US “rules based order” that is imposed whenever the empire needs a few bucks.
Of course they did. It is made easier as all Ukrainian companies had their assets in Western banks. I would not be shocked if Zelenski reached into their personal accounts as well. Meaning that whatever was left of Ukrainian economy is gone.
“After martial law is lifted, these assets may be returned to their owners or their value may be reimbursed,” Danilov said.
Reimbursed in then worthless Ukraine species.
“their value may be reimbursed”. If the Biden administration puts it on the card.
My bet is that it will be Trump or DeSantis making that decision. I don’t think this will be over before January of 2025, and I strongly doubt that democrats will win the Presidential election in 2024.
Just remember: it isn’t over ’till the fat oligarch sings.
Depends on whether they are using Dominion voting machines or paper ballots. The U.S. is quickly becoming like so many Banana Republics where voting has become just a formality.
I’m reasonably optimistic…Some things will be returned or at least somewhat compensated for. Still “seizure” is such an ugly word…..
In July 1918, the US Government seized control of the entire telephone system. It took about year to realize that they had no idea how to run it.
An important lesson on election day. Every representative democracy is just one war away from becoming a dictatorship. Ukraine didn’t have very far to fall but Volodymyr Zelensky was elected, and he was elected as a reformer. A crisis gave him the excuse, but liberal democracy gave him the power. The worst thing you can give a dictator is a popular mandate and every leader is a dictator in waiting. We can’t fight fascism unless we smash the state that makes it possible, and we can’t fight war unless we fight the fascism the makes it inevitable.
Right. And why are Western elites so interested in promoting “liberal democracies”? Because “liberal democracies” are easy to manipulate . Play one side against another. Divide the populace into factions. Get a bunch of corrupt politicians in office and then keep them in power via “foreign aid”. Whatever it takes.
Then rob those countries blind. Sell a bunch of overpriced military equipment. Use their military to keep the right people in power…. just in case.