Illegal gambling business prospers under authorities' protection in Kyiv region, says MP
Kyiv, September 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – A people's deputy from the Batkivschyna Party, Kostiantyn Bondarev, has claimed illegal gambling businesses are actively operating in Kyiv region under the protection of the authorities and law enforcers.
"Illegal gambling businesses are prospering around Kyiv and law enforcers are protecting them. And today they won't manage to switch attention from this problem to the elections," he said at a press conference hosted by Interfax-Ukraine on September 24.
"There are at least two or three such places in every town in Kyiv region, and we can give their addresses. For example, there are 15 [gambling businesses] in Bila Tserkva, five in Brovary, and four in Vyshgorod," the politician said.
Bondarev also said that parliament is constantly trying to distract people's attention from the problem during the election campaign.
He added that law enforcers broke the law in a conflict that occurred in Brovary during the installation of campaigning tents of the UDAR and Batkivschyna parties in a place that was improper for this, according to the police.
"What they call seizure is theft. Seizure is legal when there is a relevant court ruling, even if it is unlawful. However, they opened a criminal case on disobeying the police instead. No one was injured. Look at me and the policeman, who is more than two meters high and weighs 120 kilograms. And they say that I alone injured ten policemen… There are photos and a video proving that I and three or four elderly ladies were protecting those tents," he said.
Bondarev said he would address the prosecutor general and the presidential administration of Ukraine regarding cases of illegal gambling businesses functioning in Kyiv region.
"We hope that the prosecutor general will keep his word, and the people involved in illegal activities in Ukraine, or at least in Kyiv region, will be punished," said First Deputy Chairman of the Batkivschyna United Opposition's election headquarters in Kyiv region Volodymyr Polochanynov.
He said the prosecutor general promised several weeks ago to punish those involved in the illegal gambling business, regardless of their political affiliation.
Polochanynov said residents of towns in Kyiv region have been regularly writing letters about the existence of illegal gambling businesses in their towns to local governments, but have received no response.