As the United States continues to grapple with openly corrupt officials and businesses in Afghanistan and Iraq who have stolen billions in aid, the notoriously corrupt Ukrainian system appears eager to outdo their counterparts. The poster boy of Ukrainian corruption is Vladimir Belonog who has been openly selling meals ready to eat (MREs) that were shipping only days before to the country to support its besieged military. Belonog is selling the MREs with the U.S. markings still on them and the warning “U.S. Government Property, commercial resale is unlawful.” What is most remarkable is that he has not been arrested after selling the aid in plain view of the government. Diplomats and experts have described Ukraine under Presidents Kuchma and Yushchenko as a virtual kleptocracy, or government of thieves.
The United States and its European allies are about to pour billions into one of the most corrupt governments in Europe. Belonog is an example of the utter depravity of these dealers. His county is threatened with attack. It has lost a huge chunk of territory to Russia. Yet, Belonog is siphoning off military aid to feather his own nest — clearly with the assistance of Ukrainian public officials. Corruption is so acceptable that he even gave an interview for the article below — though he removed the MREs off his page after the TIME interview.
In 2012, Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index Ukraine was ranked 144th out of the 176 countries as one of the most corrupt nations in the world — tied with such countries as Bangladesh, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Syria). That same year, Ernst & Young ranked Ukraine among the three most corrupt nations of the world. Sounds perfect for U.S. aid given our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ukrainian media is reporting that MREs were being sold by the caseload almost immediately after they were delivered to the Ukraine. What is distressing is that this was the easy stuff to secure. It was a relatively small shipment in comparison to billions coming down pipeline. Yet, despite the infusion of MREs on the open market, Alexei Mazepa, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, insists that “The meals are safe and sound at our warehouses in Kiev. They have not even been distributed to the bases yet.” Hmmmm.
Source: Time
I had already known we’re on the same wavelength, Els. It’s difficult to write a precise essay within the confines of a comment. And speech-to-text is so imprecise (I’m more at home on a keyboard), not to mention that we may be responding in haste from a coffee shop or who knows where. Consequently, too many of us use our biases to judge commenters. For example, when I defend the free speech rights of right-wing religious zealots, I’m attacked for being a right-wing religious zealot, myself, never mind that I am NOT, by wants-it-both-ways bigots. Or if I criticize the waste in the food-stamp program, I’m labeled a heartless son-of-a-bitch by the shoot-from-the-hip spastics. The idea is to express oneself, not win a popularity contest. Society is too overrun with templated thinking, going by all those who line up either on the left or right. Whatever happened with free, independent thinking?
Nick, what is the ethnicity of the Ukrainians from your town?
Samantha, I grew up in a town w/ a strong Ukrainian population. Many kids I went to school w/ were 1st generation US citizens. They are great people and they are very concerned for their former countrymen. I fear NATO will sell them down the river.
Interesting reply, Samantha. I reread your earlier comment on this story several times and I do admit to missing one thing: you said ‘us’ when referring to those of us who know so little about the Ukraine and Russia. While English is not close to being my first language, I don’t often misunderstand (as Pres. Bush Jr. would say) the meaning and intent of what people write on this site. All I can say is that I am tired of my taxes going to support a corrupt regime knowing that that most of the aid sent will go into the deep pockets of the new regime and that there will be little difference for the poor folks there. I feel increasingly that we need to take care of the needy in this country first. The waste I witnessed in Afghanistan made my blood boil. So, sorry if I did not get the gist of what it was you wrote. Will try to do better with your next comment.
Els, we should all be so lucky that the US is not sending food stamps to Ukraine rather than MREs. Imagine all the US food corporations setting up shop in Ukraine to cash in on foodstamps, in the process causing inflation, which in turn means profit and greed would get 90% of the pie, while the poor, hungry Ukrainians fight over 10 percent. It used to be that stockholders had to earn their money. Now it is handed to them on a platter by taxpayers made powerless by a corrupt political system. I’m not sure why you believe we are not on the same wavelength here.
Samantha, I may not be an expert on the Ukraine and on Russia or the former Soviet Republic but I do know a couple of things about seeing my taxes going down the drain to another country at the very bottom of the index on corruption. Afghanistan sucked up our hard-earned tax monies and in the end, just as it will happen in the Ukraine, only a minority will enrich themselves and I’m sick and tired of this. You describe the Ukranian people as warm, docile and generous. I can describe the American people in the same terms, just as most Afghan people were. I am an immigrant here in the US and I am very guilty of being very critical of the American administrations during the 33 years of my being here. I am not apologetic about it and it includes both the left and the right. I am however foremost concerned about my American-born daughter and those Americans who, through no fault of their own, have fallen on hard times or were born right into those bad times: children, the sick, the elderly, the disabled, single mothers and fathers, the mentally ill… They deserve my energy and time. Instead of bemoaning the situation and wagging your finger at how little ‘we’ know about Russia and the Ukraine, wouldn’t it be better to put your words into actions? You are free to roll up your sleeves and/or open your checkbook.
I don’t recall anyone saying healthcare in Canada was “free”. Who said that it was free Pick? Name that person.
http://www.canadian-healthcare.org/page8.html
Actually, dog lover, the standard of living for Native American Chiefs, rose and fell with the tide of the environment. You may recall that our constitution was modeled after the wisdom of native american people who’s women, by the way, voted equally alongside men.
Samantha said, “…lived in luxury while 90% of the working population stood in bread lines. Fed up, the people of ukraine finally through their asses out. It is probably going to happen here in the US one day too..”
Has there ever been a culture where it wasn’t the case that “leaders” lived in luxury mooching off of the 90% of the population who does all the work and lives frugally? Maybe that occurs with primitive tribes because leadership is far more transparent. We too might gain the transparency that constrains corruption if all “leaders” can be placed under constant surveillance and surveillance reports made available to the public.
Government aid, no matter where, or for what reason, is always steeped in fraud. It’s “free” shit, just like the “free” healthcare in Canada.
Both Kuchma and Yushchenko had been members of the politburo, the old Soviet guard, who lived in luxury while 90% of the working population stood in bread lines. Fed up, the people of ukraine finally through their asses out. It is probably going to happen here in the US one day too. If you would be one who stands by the corruption, we will then know that you’re one who is already working the system. The people of ukraine are a warm, generous, docile people, unlike their crude Russian counterpart whose genes have not yet been cleansed of the Bolshevik insanity. Even Putin himself in his speech of March 18 admitted the past injustices inflicted on the Ukrainian people, including intentional starvation that eclipsed the Holocaust in numbers perished. He merely brushed it off by saying that we must move forward. Lots of wild comments here demonstrating just how ignorant so many of us are of the Ukrainian and Soviet history.
And as I’ve said…. We need to just sit this one out…. Now how much did the preparer of the MRE get paid for these and you’ll find out why we are involved in these….. War for profit….
And you expected what?
Another admonishment and prediction of Ron Paul coming to pass, as it is his son’s Rand.
They are warning us to keep out of that mess, they said there would be the same kind of corruption and stealing of US aid.
I suspected they were right, but I didn’t think it would be this fast.
Imagine what will happen when the good stuff start coming through, and the privateers there get their sea legs on. Booty for all.
MRE planned obsolescence.
What Justice Holmes said. It is not unusual for MRE’s to end up on the Black Market, but this transfer is being done so boldly that common sense would suggest a halt to any other supplies or money. However, Common Sense is not a popular attribute in DC.
Well, you can’t write off a whole society because of the corruption of their so-called leaders.
Russia is the current king of corruption where everything is controlled by a small group of oligarchs who are personally loyal to the acknowledged dictator.
Clearly association with the EU is the best course of action and will at least help to bring the country up to European standards. (We might call that ‘ordinary corruption’.)
Dan,Given the fact that the EU could not or would not support the agreement with the former government that was illegally overthrown with the backing of the EU and the US, to think that they would curb the corruption is absurd. They were the SPONSORS of this. They are simply buying off the ruling oligarchs in the Ukraine to feather their own nests.
The real comparison with Hitler is the EU and the USA, trying to annex the Ukraine into their system just as Hitler did the Anschluss with Austria. This is even more appropriate since the EU and the USA have REAL NAZIS on their side. Hope you like to say Sieg Heil to your buddies. At least some folks in the West are telling the truth about who and what the EU and the US are doing. I have yet to see any justification from the pro-EU side as to why they think it is good to support their buddies. Instead they keep quiet or try and hide the facts.
We rush through a billion dollars in aid to the Ukraine while our own unemployed languish. I guess the contractor who sold the meals was more important than our citizens thanks Congress!
Well since the West and many folks on this site supported the fascist led coup that overthrew Yasonovych, I fail to see why this should be cause for concern. You KNEW that this government was illegally formed, supported the coup, and then turn around and complain that Putin was not following international law! You made your bed, and climbed in with your bedfellows, so stop complaining. I suggest that you stick to some principles for a change, and then I might have some sympathy for your position.
I would also urge you to make your voices heard in the Congress to stop aid to this fascist regime. They had a deal with Russia that would have bailed the Ukraine out,, but you decided to support overthrowing that government in favor of this one. I am rather upset that it is my tax dollars that will be stolen, and put in the Swiss bank accounts of the Ukrainian fascists. Enjoy your Nazi buddies!
Whle this is certainly bad on this individual’s part and those who assisted him I don’t know how predictive it will be of the entirety of the Ukraine, though the nation’s recent past is certainly horrible with regard to corruption.
It is certainly incumbent upon the international community to account for whatever aid package is provided.