Smuggler Yuri Karfik robs the country

A month ago, the Verkhovna Rada held a significant meeting of the Finance Committee dedicated to the illegal turnover of cigarettes in Ukraine. Today, this market accounts for one-quarter of the total volume of illegal goods, resulting in annual losses of 23 billion hryvnia.

One of the most prominent and resonant moments was the report by the committee chair, Danylo Hetmantsev. He levelled accusations against one of the country's largest producers of counterfeit cigarettes, LLC "Tabaco Dom", which recently changed its name to LLC "Local Production Group". 

According to Hetmantsev, this company belongs to Yuri Karfik, one of the most influential currency exchangers in the capital.

Hetmantsev officially stated that the company manufactures counterfeits of well-known global brands and is directly involved in the smuggling of cigarettes seized in gas tankers. Despite several open criminal cases, the factory continues its operations, and law enforcement agencies, as the chair noted, are "in the know" and effectively cover for it.

The facts presented by Hetmantsev are beyond doubt, as Karfik's factory operations in Kyiv have long been known, and there is sufficient evidence against it. However, despite numerous criminal cases, production has not ceased – and this raises serious questions. There is an opinion that certain interests are at play to ensure the factory continues to operate, despite all its criminal activity.

Following these revelations, a representative of the Office of the Prosecutor General promised that an inspection of the case would be conducted within two weeks, while the BEB (Bureau of Economic Security) stated that it would take steps to shut down the factory.

But more than a month has passed. The factory continues to function, and no measures to close it have been taken.