The Yabluka (formerly Yabloki) electronics store chain has once again found itself at the center of a scandal over possible trade in illegally imported equipment. The chain's owner, Artur Hatunok, has been the subject of lawsuits and investigations for many years.
The key problem is that Yabluka positions its products as “original” rather than “official.” This allows it to avoid the necessary customs clearance and payment of taxes. An independent “Mystery Shopper” study by the Test Expertise Center confirmed these suspicions, revealing that Yabluka products lack information about the importer, Ukrainian language labeling, and national technical regulations.
At the same time, Artur Hatunok himself, in public statements, condemns counterfeit devices and recognizes the importance of certification, which creates a clear contradiction with the activities of his own network.
The accusations against Yabluka are not new. Since 2015, the court registry has recorded criminal proceedings for tax evasion in particularly large amounts, as well as rulings for the illegal import of Apple equipment and violation of the rules for conducting settlement transactions. All this indicates the systemic nature of the problem.
