Nataliya Bernatska-Sevostyanova does not take bribes, she is paid for love

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In early November 2017, the notorious former Deputy Minister of Justice Nataliya Sevostyanova married lawyer Ruslan Bernatskyi, who is the founder and owner of the international law firm «Integrites».

According to experts, a legal marriage occurred between business and government authorities. And while everything is perfectly clear with Sevostyanova-Bernatska, her husband and his company deserve special attention.

Ruslan Bernatskyi is a long-standing acquaintance and partner of Andriy Portnov, a person who was particularly close to Viktor Yanukovych. It was Portnov who introduced Bernatskyi to Sevostyanova. During Yanukovych’s presidency, Portnov served as the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine and the Head of the Main Department for Judicial Reform and the Judiciary.

In April 2011, as a result of an administrative reform, Portnov was transferred to the position of Presidential Adviser and Head of the Main Department for the Judiciary in the Presidential Administration. Simply put, he «steered» the judicial system under Yanukovych. After Yanukovych fled, he left the country. He currently resides with his family in Moscow, where he opened the law firm «AP Group».

Bernatskyi’s company «Integrites» offers services in interaction between business and government. This high-priced intermediary solves any issues. Imagine the possibilities of this lawyer when his wife is a whole Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine. Knowledgeable people say that this couple practices blocking state inspections of any level regarding certain companies, often resorting to blatant blackmail. This direction of their now family «business» brings a good income.

The main office of «Integrites» is located in Kyiv. But this does not hinder Bernatskyi from conducting his business in Russia – a state that has been waging war against Ukraine for the fourth year, that has created a real hell in the east of our country, and has seized the Ukrainian Crimea.

We visit the official website of «Integrites»

At the bottom, we see an original clock with the flag of Russia – the aggressor country. In the upper right corner, we see news that Bernatskyi’s company was noted in a prestigious Russian rating:

Switching to the Russian section of the website, we observe an altogether «interesting» picture in the form of a hot air balloon in the colors of the Russian flag:

A strange situation is unfolding, isn’t it? The husband of the Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine conducts his activities in the territory of the aggressor country, while the website of his company is just brimming with the colors of the Russian flag.

By the way, if you pay attention to the location of the Russian office of «Integrites», you can see that in the same business center is the office of the young oligarch-fugitive Serhiy Kurchenko:

Maybe Mr. Bernatskyi is connected with Russia not only by business?

Further – more…

Nataliya Bernatska (née Sevostyanova) was one of the candidates for the Central Election Commission (CEC) from Petro Poroshenko.

A few years ago, journalists from the project «Slidstvo.Info» reported on the brilliant career of the official and examined her equally brilliant electronic declaration. For example, despite low incomes in 2014, Sevostyanova managed to acquire two luxury SUVs, a Lexus RX350 and a Porsche Cayenne. She says 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 ex-Deputy Minister of Justice, and now a potential participant in the Central Election Commission.

In 2015, a young lawyer from Odesa took the seat of the First Deputy Minister of Justice. Serious tasks for a new policy person drew our attention, and we decided to take a closer look at the high-ranking official Nataliya Sevostyanova.

Sevostyanova’s career can undoubtedly be described as very swift. She entered the seat of first the Government Representative in Matters of the European Court of Human Rights, and then the first ex-deputy of the Minister of Justice, straight from academia. The only official previous place of work was the Department of International Law and International Relations at the National University “Odesa Law Academy,” better known as “Kivalov Academy.”

So how did the successful scientist from Odesa suddenly relocate to the capital? Simultaneously with her work at the “Kivalov Academy,” Nataliya Sevostyanova managed to be an assistant to the People’s Deputy Mustafa Dzhemilev in 2012, when he was elected from the “Batkivshchyna.” We asked Dzhemilev what exactly Ms. Sevostyanova did in his team:

«Not particularly anything. She just needed it. It was on a voluntary basis, so she needed it, and I just added her,» the People’s Deputy recalls.

Maybe the status of an assistant to a People’s Deputy was the first step into big politics? Sevostyanova herself explains: she got into the Ministry of Justice literally off the street. So how did she manage to earn the trust of Minister Pavlo Petrenko?

— We met with the minister during the interview. I first saw him when I entered his office. I think it was due to my work that was. Before the revolution, I would never have gotten a government job, because I have no lawyers in my family, no contacts in the government — it seemed impossible. Even for the position of a chief specialist. When there was such an opportunity, after the revolution, to take responsibility — I immediately agreed,» says how she got a job at the Ministry Nataliya Sevostyanova.

Without leaving her native university, in September 2013, Sevostyanova received a certificate of eligibility to practice law issued by the Bar Council of Odesa region.

Chairman of this Council, Yosyp Bronz, is very proud of Nataliya Sevostyanova and recalls her exams. We are interested in the more professional side — asking about the cases she conducted.

— We have three thousand lawyers — we can’t receive information on each of them. But we do know for sure that there were no complaints, statements, etc. about her, — the lawyer explains.

No less impressive than her career is Nataliya Sevostyanova’s electronic declaration. In 2015, the official income of the first ex-deputy minister of justice did not reach 215,000 UAH. However, we were interested in something else. We immediately ask the official about the declared jewelry: expensive watches, jewelry, and a fur coat.

— I took a very categorical approach to filling out the declaration. I appraised everything I have at home over the years and declared it all. I don’t know how much some of it costs because 100% of this valuable property I once received as a gift from a person I was in a relationship with, — the first deputy minister of justice explains.

Among real estate under Sevostyanova’s use is a room in an Odesa dormitory and a 147-meter apartment in Kyiv. In ownership — a quarter of an apartment in Cherkasy, where the family of the first deputy minister of justice currently resides.

Her father, Ilarion Sevostyanov, is a businessman. In the registry of physical and legal persons, he can be found among the founders of more than a dozen companies. Among them was the firm «YASHMA-2». Another co-founder of this company is Viktor Polishchuk. It is his apartment that is used by the first deputy minister of justice.

— He’s a family friend, so in Kyiv, I live in his place,— says Nataliya Sevostyanova.

Living? «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 lived there since I moved to Kyiv and started working at the Ministry. That was in April 2014, after the Revolution. Because, unfortunately, there was nowhere to live in Kyiv, and relatives supported me — the first deputy minister explains.

We recall the «Novopecherski Lypky» housing complex, where Nataliya Sevostyanova is often seen. She says:

— Indeed, nowadays I live there with my young husbans — adding — From this year… — promising that this information will appear in the next declarations.

«Novopecherski Lypky» is one of the most expensive residential complexes in the capital. This is where the first deputy minister of justice currently lives.

Besides elite housing, she also uses elite cars. Luxury SUVs, the Lexus RX350 and Porsche Cayenne, are registered to the official’s mother, Viktoriya Sevostyanova. Both cars were purchased in 2014. At that time, Sevostyanova herself had already started working at the Ministry.

«Slidstvo.info» found Viktoriya Sevostyanova and inquired why she bought two cars worth more than a million hryvnias one after the other:

- All the cars are mine. Currently, they are parked — that’s all the mother of the first ex-deputy minister disclosed to us.

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

Speaking of money. Sevostyanova’s bank account holds 95,823 UAH. In cash are 450,000 UAH, 40,000 euros, and 290,000 dollars.

Where did the money come from? After all, Sevostyanova did not work a single day in business. Again, the first deputy minister of justice mentions her parents:

— Most of these funds came from my parents, who saved them for me. So that I could buy housing. At that time, I kept them on deposit, and they brought a little income to live because the salary was small. When gifted separate funds on holidays, for some landmark dates. For example, when I defended my candidate thesis, they gifted a separate amount. I just saved it all, because, you see, I didn’t buy myself a new car. Because I understand that the priority is housing.»

Indeed, housing in Kyiv might come in handy for her — considering the rate of her rapid career advancement.

In particular, Nataliya Sevostyanova constantly participates in competition commissions for the selection of members of new anti-corruption bodies. For example, the National Anti-Corruption Prevention Agency or the State Bureau of Investigation.

Public organizations that monitor these contests see a complicated pattern here:

— Nataliya Sevostyanova is constantly delegated to various commissions and performs the function assigned to her — she represents the government. I see no independence in this. Both the first and second contests are absolutely politicized. Those representatives from the authorities delegated to these commissions simply played their role, pushing the candidates already approved by the authorities,» explains Oleksandr Lemenov, manager of the «Reanimation Package of Reforms».

He immediately recalls the former lecturer of Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Nataliya Korchak, who as a result of such a contest headed the NACP. This anti-corruption body is currently stalling the start of electronic declaration checks for officials.

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

Another detail emphasized by public activists is that in the midst of the commission’s work on selecting members of the State Bureau of Investigation, Sevostyanova receives the honorary title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, signed by the President.

— It’s a big mistake for both the president and Ms. Sevostyanova. Why? Because, for example, judges are not allowed to receive awards from government representatives throughout their entire term of office — thus creating a conflict of interest. A person cannot receive an award to exercise biased powers, — notes Lemenov.

Nataliya Sevostyanova herself sees no political subtext in such recognition:

— Actually, the minister nominated all of us deputies for this title. First, it was received by our chief of staff – Hanna Volodymyrivna, now I received it. I’m sure others will gradually receive this title. It was simply timed to the holiday — Lawyer’s Day. That’s why it’s a coincidence. I don’t think the distinction can somehow motivate. In our country, usually, if they want to put pressure on someone, they open a criminal case,» she explains.

Maria Zemlyanska, Bureau «Svidomo» for Slidstvo.Info