30.10.2024 Investigations Kharkiv Tenders

How did humanitarian aid turn into a business for Kharkiv? Ovcharova’s medical schemes and manipulations on Sinegubov’s “Shlyakh”

У Харківській області надають необхідну допомогу хворим на цукровий діабет

Zhanna Ovcharova is one of the most influential people in medical circles, who, thanks to her connections and numerous scandals, has been able to build a rather lucrative career.

The former advisor to the head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleh Syniehubov has now moved to the Sievierodonetsk military administration, trying to strengthen her position despite the fact that Sievierodonetsk is currently under occupation.

She is known not only for her involvement in numerous procurements, but also for her scandalous ties to the medical sector, including the MSEC.

As deputy director of the Department of Health and adviser to the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration on medicine, Zhanna Ovcharova was involved in a number of corruption schemes. Interestingly, her activities were apparently not limited to administrative duties – together with officials of the Kharkiv Regional Center of the Medical Expert Commission, Ovcharova set up the process of “establishing disability” for men of military age for undue benefit.

Disability schemes

Ovcharova allegedly acted as an intermediary in a scheme to issue medical certificates of disability to evade mobilization. For this, officials received considerable sums of money, some of which Zhanna Ovcharova transferred to the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, who is also allegedly involved in the scheme.

The head of the Kharkiv MSEC, who, according to the investigation, was involved in corruption schemes with the help of Ovcharova and her colleagues, was investigated after hundreds of thousands of dollars, including funds in Russian rubles, were found in his possession.

Nevertheless, the Health Department is in no hurry to fire him, as the MSEC brings significant profits to the “medical dealers”, allowing them to solve issues with evasion from mobilization and obtaining medical certificates.

Family business on the budget?

Ovcharova’s daughter, Lilia Kutuzian, is the owner of Medical Equipment+ LLC, which has been supplying medical equipment and servicing medical facilities since 2019. It is possible that some of the funds received from the “medical schemes” were used for further enrichment through the contracts of this company.

Let’s analyze tender procurement

The Kharkiv Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital ordered the services of routine repair and maintenance of lung ventilators and anesthesia stations for a total of UAH 49,900. The only bidder and winner was Medical Technics+ LLC.

In total, Medical Technics+ LLC participated in 47 tenders for a total amount of UAH 1.82 million and won them. The customers for these tenders are the Regional Oncology Center, the Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital of the Kharkiv Regional Council, the Regional Children’s Infectious Diseases Hospital of the Kharkiv Regional Council, and the Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital of the Kharkiv Regional Council.

In addition, the scheme involved the company TB “Molochnyi Khutor” LLC, registered in the name of Ovcharova’s relatives. Under the guise of purchasing dairy products for hospitals, the funds, according to the investigation, were withdrawn through inflated prices.

Interestingly, in 2023, Ovcharova unexpectedly resigned from her position “for family reasons.” During the 1.5 years of her work, she created a powerful corruption network that included misappropriation of public funds, establishing fictitious disabilities, and money laundering through medical contracts.

Schemes with humanitarian aid

The NGO “Hope and Justice”, closely associated with Ovcharova, has become a tool for misappropriating humanitarian aid and facilitating illegal border crossings. Instead of supporting Kharkiv residents, the aid that was supposed to come from foreign partners ended up in private hands and then resold.

The NGO was also used to cover up the departure of men liable for military service. Ovcharova and her partners registered them as drivers of humanitarian cargo, which allowed them to cross the border legally during the war.

According to the current resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Oleh Synehubov, is authorized to grant permits for such trips. In fact, it was through his signature that representatives of the criminal group entered the right people into the Shlyakh system.

Impunity and chaos in the medical sector

Inaction and talk of “reforms” cover numerous schemes where corruption has become the “norm”. Ovcharova, like many other officials, continues to enrich herself during the war, leaving patients without proper care. It is striking that even high-profile corruption revelations do not force the relevant authorities to act.

It is known that the Ministry of Health is one of the most profitable structures of the state after the Ministry of Defense, as it procures humanitarian medicines and controls significant budgetary flows.

In such circumstances, the issue of corruption and non-transparent use of funds becomes especially critical, as many of the leaders, such as Ovcharova, use their positions for personal enrichment rather than to support the population that suffers the most from the war.

If you are aware of similar violations or abuses by utility companies, please report them to info.nonstopukraine@gmail.com.

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