First bulletproof vests, now food: BES blocks work of Armed Forces catering supplier
6 August 2024 15:20
This morning, MIT PROM, which has been part of the pool of companies that have been providing catering services for the Ukrainian Armed Forces for more than a year and a half, was forced to suspend its operations. This was reported by the company itself, according to Komersant ukrainskyi
.
“Due to the actions of BEB representatives, the process of shipping food for the needs of the army was completely blocked. BEB employees blocked the possibility of the loaded trucks leaving and forbade employees to pass their workplaces,” the company said.
MIT PROM clarified that the criminal proceedings under which BES detectives “literally broke into the company’s premises and warehouses were registered more than 8 months ago”.
“All this time, the company has been reasonably refuting the BES’s unfounded suspicions of alleged value added tax evasion, providing the investigators with relevant explanations and documentary evidence,” the statement said.
MIT PROM stressed that the BES raid is seen as a way of intimidating management and putting pressure on the business.
“Even despite the fact that it is a strategically important activity for the state and the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the statement said.
MIT PROM also added that it has reason to believe “that the actions of certain representatives of the BES are aimed at blackmailing the company, which has previously refused to go beyond the scope of legitimate interaction between business and law enforcement agencies”. The company appealed to the Ministry of Defence, the State Logistics Operator of Ukraine and the Defence Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to respond to the situation within their competence.
“MIT PROM emphasises that it conducts its business activities in strict compliance with the tax laws of Ukraine and fulfils all its obligations under contracts with the Ministry of Defence,” the company said.
In July, the BES was accused of blocking the work of Ukrainian Armour, a company that is critical to the frontline, which manufactures bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets and tactical ammunition.
