Nataliya Bernatska (Sevostyanova): "I don’t take bribes, I get paid for love"

Nataliya Bernatska (Sevostyanova): "I don’t take bribes, I get paid for love"

Nataliya Bernatska (née Sevastyanova) is one of the candidates for the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Petro Poroshenko’s list.

Last year, journalists from the project "Slidstvo.Info" reported on the brilliant career of the official and examined her equally notable electronic declaration. For example, despite low income in 2014, Sevastyanova managed to purchase two luxury SUVs: a Lexus RX350 and a Porsche Cayenne. She claims that her parents saved money all their lives and bought the cars for themselves. However, these are not the only "achievements" of the young and successful First Deputy Minister of Justice, now likely a participant in the Central Election Commission.

Two years ago, a young lawyer from Odesa took the seat of the First Deputy Minister of Justice. The serious tasks for a new person in politics caught our attention, and we decided to take a closer look at the senior official Nataliya Sevastyanova.

Sevastyanova’s career can undoubtedly be described as very rapid. From holding the position of the government envoy for the European Court of Human Rights, she moved directly from academia to the seat of the First Deputy Minister of Justice. The only official previous job was at the Department of International Law and International Relations at the National University "Odesa Law Academy."

So how did a successful academic from Odesa suddenly move to the capital? Nataliya Sevastyanova managed to be an assistant to people’s deputy Mustafa Dzhemilev in 2012 when he was an MP from the "Batkivshchyna" party. We asked Dzhemilev what exactly Sevastyanova did in his team:

"Not particularly anything. She just needed it. It was on a voluntary basis, so she needed it, and I listed her," recalls the people’s deputy.

Perhaps the status of a people’s deputy assistant was the first step into big politics? Sevastyanova herself explains that she got into the Ministry of Justice literally off the street. How did she manage to earn the trust of Minister Pavlo Petrenko?

- I met the minister during an interview. I saw him for the first time when I entered his office. I think it was the result of my work. Before the revolution, I would never have been able to work in the government because I had no family connections or contacts in the government - it seemed impossible. Even for the position of a chief specialist. When there was an opportunity after the revolution to take responsibility - I immediately agreed," explains Natalia Sevastyanova about how she got a job in the Ministry.

Without leaving her alma mater, in September 2013, Sevastyanova received a certificate for practicing law. It was issued by the Bar Council of the Odesa Region.

The head of this Council, Yosyp Bronz, is very proud of Nataliya Sevastyanova, recalling how she passed her exams. We also asked him more about her professional side - specifically about the cases she handled.

- We have three thousand lawyers - we cannot obtain information about each one. But we definitely know that, at least, there were no complaints or claims against her," explains the lawyer.

No less impressive than her career is Nataliya Sevastyanova’s electronic declaration. In 2015, the official income of the First Deputy Minister of Justice was less than 215,000 hryvnias. However, something else caught our interest. We immediately ask the official about the declared valuables: expensive watches, jewelry, and a fur coat.

- I approached filling out the declaration very categorically. I evaluated everything I have at home over the years and declared it all. I don’t know the exact cost of everything because 100% of this valuable property was a gift from someone I had a relationship with - begins to explain the First Deputy Minister of Justice.

Among the real estate in use by Sevastyanova is a room in an Odesa dormitory and a 147-square-meter apartment in Kyiv. She owns a quarter of an apartment in Cherkasy, where the First Deputy Minister of Justice’s family currently lives.

Her father, Ilarion Sevastyanov, is a businessman. In the register of individuals and legal entities, he can be found as the founder of more than a dozen companies. Among them was a firm "YASHMA-2." Another co-founder of this company is a certain Viktor Polishchuk. It is in his apartment that the First Deputy Minister of Justice lives.

- He is a family friend, which is why I live with him in Kyiv - says Nataliya Sevastyanova.

Resides? "Slidstvo.Info" found the apartment. It is in a building on the outskirts of Kyiv, in Bortnychi. Rusty doors, dirty windows, and practically no road.

- I have been living there since I moved to Kyiv and started working in the Ministry since April 2014, after the Revolution. Unfortunately, there was nowhere else for me to live in Kyiv, and my relatives supported me - clarifies the First Deputy Minister of Justice.

We also mention the "Novopecherski Lypky" residential complex, where Nataliya Sevastyanova is often seen. She says:

- Indeed, I am currently living there with my young man - and adds - From this year... - she promises that this information will appear in her next declarations.

"Novopecherski Lypky" is one of the most expensive residential complexes in the capital. Currently, this is where the First Deputy Minister of Justice actually resides.

In addition to elite housing, she has access to luxury cars. The luxury SUVs Lexus RX350 and Porsche Cayenne are registered under the name of the official’s mother, Victoria Sevastyanova. Both cars were purchased in 2014, when Sevastyanova began working in the Ministry.

"Slidstvo.Info" found Victoriya Sevastyanova and asked why she purchased two cars in quick succession, each worth over a million hryvnias:

- All the cars are mine. They are currently parked," was the only explanation given by the mother of the First Deputy Minister.

Nataliya Sevastyanova herself explains that her parents saved money all their lives and bought the cars for themselves.

By the way, about the money. In a bank account, Sevastyanova has 95,823 hryvnias. In cash, she has another 450,000 hryvnias, 40,000 euros, and 290,000 dollars.

Where did such money come from? After all, Sevastyanova has not worked in business for a single day. Once again, the First Deputy Minister of Justice mentions her parents:

- The majority of these funds came from my parents, who saved them for me. So I could purchase housing. I kept them in a deposit, and they provided some income for living because at that time the salary was small. Money was gifted on holidays or significant dates. For example, when I defended my thesis, I was gifted a separate amount. I simply saved it all because, as you can see, I haven’t bought myself a new car. Because I understand that housing is a priority."

And housing in Kyiv might indeed be needed for her, given the level of rapid career advancement.

In particular, Nataliya Sevastyanova constantly participates in competitive commissions for selecting members of new anti-corruption bodies. For example, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention or the State Bureau of Investigations.

Civil organizations that monitor these competitions see a complex pattern:

- Nataliya Sevastyanova is constantly delegated to different commissions and performs her designated function - she represents the government. I personally don’t see any independence in this. Both the first and second contests are entirely politicized. Those representatives from the government who were delegated to these commissions simply fulfilled their role, promoting the candidates already agreed upon by the government," explains Oleksandr Lemenov, manager of the "Reanimation Package of Reforms."

He immediately recalls Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s former teacher, Nataliya Korchak, who, as a result of such a contest, headed the NAPC. It is this anti-corruption body that is currently delaying the start of electronic declaration inspections of officials.

- We, as commission members, work there in a personal capacity. There are no instructions for us, for example, me - as a representative of the Cabinet of Ministers, on how to vote or whom to support - assures Sevastyanova.

Another detail highlighted by civil activists is during the peak of the State Bureau of Investigations commission’s work, Sevastyanova receives the title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, signed by the president.

- This is a big mistake by both the president and Ms. Sevastyanova. Why? Because, for example, judges are not allowed to receive awards from government representatives throughout their entire term of office - this avoids conflicts of interest. A person cannot receive an award to perform duties in a biased manner - notes Lemenov.

Sevastyanova herself sees no political undertones in such recognition:

- In fact, the minister submitted us all, the deputies, for this title. At first, our head of the apparatus, Hanna Volodymyrivna, received it, now I have received it. I am sure that others will gradually receive this title. It was simply timed for a holiday - Lawyer’s Day. Therefore, it’s a coincidence. I don’t think an award can be used as an incentive. In our country, usually if they want to pressure someone, they open a criminal case."

We really hope that her impeccable biography, positive references, parents always ready to provide financial support, and the government’s great trust will help Sevastyanova fulfill her serious assignments. And following her rapid career, her state assets will grow just as swiftly in public service.

Mariya Zemlyanska, "Svidomo" bureau, for Slidstvo.Info