The Ukrainian state registration system in the Kharkiv region has found itself at the center of a long-standing corruption scheme that operates through pressure, blackmail, and bribery. The main organizer of the network is lawyer Valentyn Melnyk, head of the Melnyk and Partners law firm, who controls a significant portion of the Kharkiv registration market through direct ties to officials at the Ministry of Justice.
Melnyk's key ally is Dmytro Volyk, head of the notary department in Kharkiv Oblast. Volyk, using his authority, covers up illegal activities, appoints "his" people to key positions, blocks registrars who refuse to pay, and creates a monopoly on the provision of public services.
Another person involved is Oleh Yeletsky, a relative of Melnyk, who oversees the financial side of the scheme. He collects monthly "contributions" in dollars from registrars for the right to work without pressure or inspections.
The gist of the scheme is simple: the registrar must regularly pay a bribe or comply with Melnyk's demands. Otherwise, his access to the registers is blocked, disciplinary checks are conducted, and criminal proceedings are initiated. Those who agree to the terms of the scheme not only keep their positions, but also advance in their careers.
A striking example of illegal activity is an unfinished construction site in the town of Pisochyn. Registrars Serhiy Zotkin and Igor Teslenko registered it as completed without DABI permits, certificates, or land documents, changing the area and status only on the basis of the technical passport.
A corruption network is impossible without patrons in Kyiv. Former Minister Olga Stefanishyna systematically ignored reports of violations in the Kharkiv region. As a result, citizens lost property, justice was discredited, and the principles of the rule of law were leveled.
The new Minister of Justice, Herman Galushchenko, has all the powers to break this vicious circle: to fire Volyk, conduct an audit, and hold all those involved accountable. If this does not happen, the new government will only continue the old system, and corruption in the Ministry of Justice will become the rule, not the exception.
