The Pension Fund of Ukraine refused to provide information about what pensions were received by high-ranking fugitives who fled from Ukraine after the 2014 Dignity Revolution. In response to the request of the journalists, the department stated that the publication of such data may seem to "cause significant harm to these persons", including psychological pressure, hostile atmosphere and even a threat to their lives and health.
It is about the former heads of the country who have betrayed the state, but can still count on Ukrainian pensions. Among them are the fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych, former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, former Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Rybak, Minister of Education Dmitry Tabachnyk, Defense Excellence Pavlo Lebedev, People's Deputies Alexander Efremov, Vladimir Ivanychenko, Vladimir Yanukovych.
The Pension Fund is covered by the Constitution: they say, Article 32 guarantees everyone's right to privacy and requires consent to spread confidential information. And such agreement from Yanukovych, Azarov and the company, of course, did not come.
Despite the silence of officials, journalists managed to find some information from open registers, including Mykola Azarov. As it turned out, since April 1, 2015, pension payments were discontinued - due to violation of the procedure of submission of documents. And in December 2015, the Pechersk court arrested his pension in the framework of criminal proceedings for theft of UAH 220 million. At that time, Azarov had a pension of UAH 17.25 thousand, and in his accounts lay almost UAH 2.6 million.
Subsequently, the expremier, which since the beginning of 2014 has lived in Russia, began a litigation, demanding to restore his pension. Due to his representative, he applied to the Pension Fund, but received a refusal: to file documents in person or through a legal representative. This is how the judicial marathon began, which lasted five years. Although the Podilskyi District Court of Kyiv granted the lawsuit of Azarov, most of other instances refused.
It is unknown whether the Pension Fund has resumed payments. However, the situation with the "classified" pensions for those who have betrayed the state and hide from justice, causes acute indignation in society. Especially against the background of the fact that many Ukrainians who have worked honestly have to survive meager pensions in war, inflation and prices.
Ukrainian officials justify their closeness "respect for human rights", but more and more citizens want to know if they keep those who have betrayed the country.
