This year, the combined heating and power plants (CHP’s) for Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk and Kherson are all due to be privatised. None of which seems likely between now and the end of the year due to the tender process and the clauses within the tenders. Amongst the clauses are the conversion of the plants from […]
Hryvnia devalutation almost a certainty before the year end
October 23, 2012 by 1 Comment
On 2nd January 2012, I wrote this, stating that the Hryvnia needed to devalue to between UAH 10 or UAH 11 to US$ 1 by mid 2013. Since then I wrote this, on 1st July 2012 stating it would need to devalue to UAH 9 to US$1 by the end of 2012 and this on […]
OVIR bureaucracy - For those who already have Permanent Residency
October 17, 2012 by 1 Comment
The biggest bureaucratic nightmare for any foreigner in Ukraine is the bureaucracy involved in trying to stay in the country legally for longer than 90 days in a 180 day period without bending the rules to breaking point. For those who eventually get their Permanent Residency card and domicile stamp in their passport like me, […]
6th EU Human Trafficking Conference
October 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Recognising Transdnestr - A way to defrost a frozen conflict?
October 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Frozen conflicts have traditionally been very difficult to thaw - despite the best efforts of mediators and negotiators. The Transdnestr region of Moldova, a 60 minute drive from where I live, and a place I have traveled through many times, is no exception. After 20 years the conflict with Moldova remains as frozen now as […]
Statue to Steve Jobs in Odessa - Update
October 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Way back in August, you may remember I wrote this relating to a proposed statue to commemorate Steve Jobs. Well, here it is: Not bad for a man who refused to license Apple in Ukraine during his lifetime.
Domestic violence - Council of Europe and Ukraine
October 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The world is full of good causes and those in need of assistance - regardless of whether a nation is developed, developing, or indeed not much more than a failed state. For me it has always been a bit of a dilemma what to support and what I won’t. When I ran my companies in […]
Reducing bureaucracy - Tax
October 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
A strategy for defeat - United Opposition
October 5, 2012 by 3 Comments
I have had several messages recently asking me why, in my opinion, the United Opposition electioneering strategy is as dire as I have stated it is. Fair point - Despite stating numerous times that it is sadly dismal/dire/ineffective (take your pick I have used all those words and more) I have not really explained in […]
A federal rather than feral Ukraine?
October 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Over the weekend I have been sent a few questions to contemplate, as is often the case these days. Not unusual, other than these two following questions stand out amongst the much of a muchness from the others. The first which caught my eye was not whether Ukraine would or would not be any more […]