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November 24, 2023Relatives and close associates of Artem Bidenko, an external advisor to the State Enterprise “Multimedia Innovations Platform of Ukraine” and a former government official, received 70.5 million hryvnias from the Ministry of Culture.
A significant portion of the contracts awarded by the Ministry of Culture went to companies and entrepreneurs linked by family or friendship to Artem Bidenko. Over less than three years, these companies obtained 70.5 million hryvnias from the Ministry, including nearly 51 million hryvnias directly from the Multimedia Innovations Platform of Ukraine. The case of Artem Bidenko effectively illustrates the influence wielded by unofficial advisors or consultants to government institutions. Bidenko’s role as an advisor to the Multimedia Innovations Platform of Ukraine was first disclosed in his blog dedicated to justifying expenses on “The Gaze” platform.
In total, Bidenko served in the government for over five years, initially in the Ministry of Information Policy and later in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. However, companies associated with him began winning tenders from the Ministry of Culture only after his departure in 2021. These companies continue to secure government contracts even while Bidenko unofficially and pro bono advises the Multimedia Innovations Platform of Ukraine.
One such company, “Light Communications,” founded by Bidenko’s father-in-law, 68-year-old Vitaliy Shapovalenko, signed agreements with Ministry of Culture enterprises for 47.7 million hryvnias in the last two years. The initial project undertaken by “Light Communications” was a multi-part documentary film commemorating the 30th Independence Day anniversary in 2021. At that time, Bidenko was no longer employed by the ministry. Two years ago, Dozorro analysts attempted to determine what exactly the government paid 9.8 million hryvnias for and where this series could be viewed. However, neither then nor now did journalists receive substantive responses from the Ministry of Culture.
The videos produced by “Light Communications” can be viewed on the production company’s YouTube channel. There are 26 episodes, each lasting between 1.5 to 2.5 minutes, showcasing various regions in commemoration of Independence Day. Despite featuring well-known Ukrainians like writer Sergey Zhadan and musician Valeriy Kharchyshyn, these videos on average only have around one hundred views each. Apart from the videos, “Light Communications” produced a 28-minute documentary film, but it is not available for public access, including on the company’s corporate YouTube channel.