Millions for occupied territory: MRI tender for Primorsk

The company "Medgarant", owned by businessman Alexander Ostrovsky, has once again found itself at the centre of a scandal. In 2022, the firm won a tender for the supply of an MRI machine worth 30 million hryvnia for the "Gloria" sanatorium, located in the occupied city of Primorsk in Zaporizhzhia region. 

This deal raises numerous questions, given the political and territorial situation at the time the contract was signed.

Tender details: what is known

According to data from the ProZorro platform, the equipment was ordered by the communal enterprise "Medical Rehabilitation Sanatorium 'Gloria'", and the sole participant in the tender was the firm "Medgarant".

Key facts about the tender:

1. The "Gloria" sanatorium is located in Primorsk, which has been occupied by Russian troops since February 2022.
2. The Zaporizhzhia Regional Council, despite the occupation of the territory, did not cancel the tender.
3. The equipment specified in the documents was manufactured in 2019, but similar machines have not been purchased by Ukrainian medical institutions since 2016, suggesting they may be outdated.

Suspicious circumstances of the deal

Equipment and price

Experts note that the equipment may have lost some of its technical specifications due to years of disuse. Meanwhile, its cost, as stated in the tender, raises questions — the sum of 30 million hryvnia significantly exceeds market prices.

Links to Bogatyreva

"Medgarant" is not the first time to find itself at the centre of scandals. Its founder, Alexander Ostrovsky, is linked to former Health Minister Raisa Bogatyreva, who is wanted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Interpol. Such connections raise doubts about the transparency of the company's activities.

Illegitimacy of the regional council

In March 2022, the Verkhovna Rada transferred the powers of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Council to the military administration, effectively deeming the regional council illegitimate. Nevertheless, the tender was conducted, further complicating the situation.

Attempts to get answers

Journalists from "StopKor" sent an official request to "Medgarant" to find out how the medical equipment was delivered to the occupied territory and why the tender was not cancelled.

Company's reaction

A representative of "Medgarant" accepted the request and promised to pass it on to the management. However, no specific answers had been provided by the time of the investigation's publication.

Conclusions: schemes or mistakes?

The story of the MRI tender for the "Gloria" sanatorium raises several important questions:

• Why was the tender not cancelled despite the occupation of the territory?
• How was the equipment planned to be delivered to the uncontrolled territory?
• Why does the price of the machine significantly exceed market indicators?

This case is yet another example of possible corruption schemes in the state procurement system, especially in wartime conditions. Answers to these questions will be key to understanding the transparency of "Medgarant's" operations and the structures associated with it.