HACC begins trial on the merits in the case of ex-Infrastructure Minister Pyvovarskyi
On March 25, 2025, a panel of HACC judges announced the start of the trial on the merits in the case of former Infrastructure Minister Andrii Pyvovarskyi.
The prosecutor read out the indictment, accusing Pyvovarskyi and his deputy, Volodymyr Shulmeister, of issuing an order that allowed part of the ship's fee at the Pivdennyi seaport to be collected in favor of TIS-Container Terminal LLC and TIS-Ruda LLC. In addition, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority filed a civil lawsuit seeking to recover $49.3 million from the accused and the TIS group of companies.
Pyvovarskyi's defense lawyer emphasized that he had carried out his duties professionally and worked to improve Ukraine's infrastructure. He noted that five ministers succeeded Pyvovarskyi, any of whom could have canceled the order, but none did. Therefore, he argued that if anyone should be tried, it should include these ministers as well.
Pyvovarskyi denied the charges, calling them manipulative and speculative. He emphasized that after 2016, when he was no longer a minister, he could not have caused any losses. He also noted that the draft order was initiated before his appointment, passed all necessary approvals, and was sent to the Cabinet of Ministers for re-approval after the changes. Another defense lawyer emphasized that various organizations attempted to cancel the order through the courts, but were unsuccessful.
According to investigators, in 2015, Pyvovarskyi issued an order allowing private companies to charge half of the ship fee rate at Pivdennyi Seaport. The order was not implemented until 2017, when Pyvovarskyi's deputy, Volodymyr Shulmeister, sent a letter to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, demanding compliance with the order. Although the port's water area is state-owned and the right to collect fees belongs to a state-owned enterprise, TIS began collecting some part of the fee. Thus, from 2017 to 2021, the state incurred damages exceeding $40 million.