The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure held a seven-hour meeting on 16 September, during which it considered, among other things, the situation between Ukrposhta and the National Bank of Ukraine. A wide range of issues was discussed: from tax identification numbers and bank card numbers on payment slips to financial inclusion and the position of Ukrposhta chief executive Ihor Smilianskyi.
There is an agreement that in the near future, at the initiative of Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi, a meeting of “all interested parties” will take place, and until then Ukrposhta will stop commenting publicly on the matter. Separately, with the National Bank team they agreed to work through its proposals as quickly as possible, with the participation of representatives of the committee and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, so that they can come to the meeting with the government leadership with concrete solutions, Smilianskyi reported on Facebook.
“I can express cautious optimism that this is possible,” he commented.
Smilianskyi assured that the postal operator will make every effort to go into winter strong and ready to provide citizens with basic services.
“Again, for my part, I publicly express my readiness to set aside personal emotions for the sake of working out a constructive solution. Everything else will, for now, take place behind the scenes, after which I very much hope that either we, or the leadership of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada Committee will be able to share good news,” he said.
Those taking part in the committee meeting included the head of government, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Mykola Kalashnyk, his deputy Ihor Reva, and National Bank deputy governors Dmytro Oliinyk and Oleksii Shaban. Smilianskyi thanked the National Bank representatives for a constructive proposal and an attempt to find a compromise.
Context
On 23 June, the National Bank declared Ukrposhta CEO Ihor Smilianskyi professionally unfit. The regulator said he should be removed from the company’s management within five working days (that is, by 1 July).
“Taking into account information about the violations identified in the activities of Ukrposhta JSC, as well as the answers and explanations provided by Mr Smilianskyi during the interview conducted with him by the NBU Qualification Commission, the Committee concluded that he does not have a sufficient level of knowledge of legislative requirements, understanding and experience of properly applying the requirements of current legislation, including the National Bank’s regulatory legal acts, to the extent necessary for the proper performance of the duties assigned to him, ensuring an appropriate level of corporate governance and internal control system, organising the financial monitoring system and the risk management system at Ukrposhta JSC, which indicates his non-compliance with the requirements for professional suitability as the head of a provider of financial payment services,” the NBU said.
Smilianskyi said he would appeal the NBU’s decision and linked it to Ukrposhta’s plans to set up its own bank. He continues to perform his duties.
Also on 23 June, the National Bank fined Ukrposhta JSC for breaching regulatory requirements in the payments market and consumer rights protection legislation.
Ihor Smilianskyi filed a lawsuit with the Kyiv District Administrative Court seeking to overturn the decision to dismiss him for professional unfitness.