Nefyodov Maksym Yevheniyovych

Reformer of ProZorro and failed head of the customs service with an SBU criminal case

Managing partner of the Ukrainian branch of the investment fund Icon Private Equity, which operates notably in the Russian market. Since 2015 — Deputy Minister of Economic Development in the government of Abromavichus, responsible for implementing the ProZorro system. In February 2016, he resigned following the minister but continued performing duties; in November 2016, he was appointed First Deputy Minister. In July 2019, he won a competition and headed the newly created State Customs Service — for less than 10 months.

Revenue shortfall of 12 billion, "old clique" in staff, and SBU suspicion

At Nefyodov's "new" customs service, personnel with criminal cases related to bribes and abuse of power continued to work; some were subjected to disciplinary actions 13–17 times. The customs service disastrously failed the state budget replenishment plan — estimates suggest a shortfall of about 12 billion UAH. On February 19, 2020, the High Anti-Corruption Court obliged NABU to open a case concerning possible bribery by a group led by Nefyodov during his time as deputy minister; on April 24, 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed him from the position of head of the State Customs Service. Later, the SBU investigated actions of Ministry of Economic Development officials from Abromavichus's time and prepared a suspicion project against Nefyodov under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power causing severe consequences) — specifically for illegally lifting sanctions, which he ordered despite written warnings from subordinates about the lack of legal grounds. Nefyodov denied his involvement in the violations.