EasyPay scandal: How did the NBU trust a company with a dark past?

EasyPay scandal: How did the NBU trust a company with a dark past?

Against the backdrop of numerous scandals linked to the activities of the EasyPay company, the question of granting it a licence for financial operations by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) becomes particularly relevant. LLC “Fincompany “Contract House”, which services the payment system, obtained a permit to provide payment services despite the dubious reputation of its owners — brothers Alexey and Anton Avramenko.

A licence that raises doubts

In May 2023, the NBU published a list of companies that had received licences to provide payment services. Among them was LLC “Fincompany “Contract House”, which ensures the operation of EasyPay. However, a question arises: how could a company involved in financial scandals have received such trust from the state?

Links to gambling and money laundering

Not long ago, the same company became part of a scandal related to the activities of “IBOX Bank”. The bank ceased operations after the NBU identified numerous cases of fictitious companies that processed payment transactions through self-service terminals. Among these companies was the EasyPay operator, which, according to investigation data, participated in accepting payments for gambling and other illegal operations.

Was the licence obtained through connections?

Perhaps it was thanks to old connections with NBU officials — Serhiy Savchuk and Natalya Lapko — that the Avramenko brothers managed to obtain the licence. Serhiy Savchuk, as the head of an NBU department, has been closely acquainted with Alexey and Anton Avramenko since their student days, which fuels suspicions of possible lobbying practices.

Lobbying and ties with the NBU

In particular, mentions of the company “IZI Soft”, which allegedly provides a cover for EasyPay’s activities within the NBU, add new questions to this scandal. Moreover, it is known that Natalya Lapko, the director of the NBU’s payment systems department, has family ties with EasyPay: her son, Oleksandr Lapko, worked as CTO at the company.

Reputational issues and servicing “DNR”

Equally concerning is information about the company “AVK”, whose beneficial owner was the brothers’ father, Volodymyr. Although the company allegedly ceased operations in 2015, its products were found in shops in the so-called “DNR” and “LNR”. This fact adds further questions to the history of the Avramenkos’ activities, given their past in the occupied territories.

Payments for drugs and illegal operations

According to the “Joker” channel, payments for drugs, weapons, and other illegal services allegedly go through EasyPay. Open sources confirm that this information has grounds: the registry of court decisions has repeatedly mentioned the EasyPay system in cases related to drug trafficking. A petition registered on the website of the President of Ukraine in 2019 demanded the closure of the service due to its involvement in these operations.

User data at risk

Despite numerous suspicions, EasyPay continues to operate and services approximately 20 million Ukrainians. The system participates in state programmes, such as “State in a Smartphone”, and also processes utility bills and service payments.