Akhmetov throws his weight behind united Ukraine (UPDATE)

Here is the link to the video with English-language subtitles to Rinat Akhmetov’s statement

“I am calling upon all employees across Donbas to go out tomorrow for a peaceful warning protest at the companies where they work. The rally will start tomorrow at noon with a siren ringing at all industrial businesses of Donbas in support of peace and against bloodshed. And that sound will ring every day at noon across all of Donbass until peace is established. I also call on all motor car owners and all patriots of our region to join the action!” Akmetov, whose System Capital Management remains Ukraine’s largest conglomerate, said in a statement broadcasted by the television late at night on May 19.

As for Donetsk, around 1,000 came to Akhmetov’s stadium Donbas Arena at 12 p.m. on May 20 waving orange flags of Shakhtar soccer club, also owned by the oligarch. They left in 15 minutes. At about midday the sirens rang at Akhmetov’s enterprises, but not many workers went for strike as it was designated only for those working at auxiliary departments of the plants. “Do you see any workers on strike? All are at work now,” said a woman working at checkpoint Akhmetov’s of Donetsk Metallurgical Plant.

In the city of Yenakieve, located close to Donetsk, dozens of workers gathered after the signal at the plant’s yard to talk to the managers and went back to work soon after that. 

However, more is expected from Donetsk Oblast’s Mariupol that hosts metallurgy giants – Akhmetov’s Ilyich Iron and Steel Works and Azovstal steel plant, both subordinated to Metinvest Holding. However, only those who work in the non-core departments are able to participate in the rallies, as it is technically impossible to shut down a steel plant completely for three hours.

Eavex Capital investment analyst Dmytro Churin thinks the involvement of Akhmetov, his workers and his supporters may lead to a substantial reduction of support for separatists in the region.

Metinvest workers have already formed people’s militias to counter the separatist forces.

Back in Ukraine’s history, strikes by coal miners from Donbas contributed to gaining independence in 1991 and the early presidential elections in 1994.

Russian-backed separatists have been trying to take over Ukraine’s eastern oblasts since March. They had more success in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, while their attempts in Kharkiv Oblast appeared to have failed.

As the threat grew in the Donbas region, Akhmetov was under increasing pressure to take sides. His businesses and much of his wealth may be at stake as well.

The billionaire, who has shied from the public eye for most of his career, has expressed support repeatedly in recent weeks for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. 

Many people, however, remain suspicious of his motives and true intentions. He was a big backer of the disgraced former President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled on Feb. 22 in the face of the EuroMaidan Revolution. Akhmetov also belonged to the Party of Regions, the former ruling party seen by many Ukrainians as helping to fuel the nation’s corruption.

Moreover, Pavel Gubarev, one of the leaders of the separatists in Donetsk Oblast, accused Akhmetov of financially supporting the insurgents, an allegation that Akhmetov denied.

The System Capital Management press office said in a May 16 statement that it is going to pay taxes only to the Ukrainian budget, while separatist are seeking to impose taes for their self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic that Akhmetov doesn’t want to exist.

His businesses also would likely have trouble operating globally if the Donetsk People’s Republic came into being, because the breakaway region would likely face international sanctions.

Meanwhile, DPR leader Denis Pushylin said on Twitter on May 20 that Akmetov’s business in Donetsk Oblast will be nationalized. “Akhmetov has made his choice. Unfortunately, this choice is against people of Donbas. Paying taxes to Kyiv means financing terror in Donbas. As regional oligarchs don’t want to pay taxes to budget of DNR it was decided to start nationalization,” he wrote.

Akhmetov’s SCM didn’t give any comments regarding Pushylin’s threats so far.

Editor’s Note: The story has been updated to include facts about rallies in Donetsk and Yenakiyeve.

Kyiv Post associate business editor Ivan Verstyuk can be reached at verstyuk@kyivpost.com. Kyiv Post business journalist Evan Ostryzniuk contributed reporting for this story, he can be reached at ostryzniuk@kyivpost.com.