Hennadiy Moskal: This is struggle for “green channel” used for smuggling Belarusian cigarettes to EU

The amount of smuggling is estimated at billions dollars.

Governor of Ukraine's Luhansk region comments on the conflict in Mukacheve. Hennadiy Moskal thinks the armed clash in Zakarpattia region was a result of the struggle for the “green channel”, through which Belarusian cigarettes are smuggled to the European Union, he said in an interview with gordonua.com.

“The amount of smuggling is estimated not at millions but at billions of dollars, I think. If course, people struggle for such things. This struggle has developed into a conflict, which in fact neutralised Ukraine's efforts on joining the European Union and introducing a visa free regime.

The channel is used for smuggling cigarettes and trafficking illegal migrants. As far as I know, tobacco factories, which were earlier “protected” by Zakharchenko and Chebotarev, resumed their work in Donetsk. However, most smuggled cigarettes are Belarusian. They are smuggled in Ukraine and then distributed further through the Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak and Polish borders,” Hennadiy Moskal said.

The governor of Luhansk region says how goods are delivered to the EU illegally.

“Light planes, hang gliders and drones are used to smuggle goods. If the border follows a river, divers are used. They also smuggle goods in timber, but this channel will be closed, as the export of timber from Ukraine will be banned on November 1.

Did any of these volunteer battalions send official requests regarding smuggling? We don't have any requests. You have a choice today. If you don't believe the police, go to the Security Service (SBU), if you don't believe the Security Service, go to the General Prosecutor's Office. If you believe neither of the above, go to the recently created Anticorruption Bureau. But you should report about these facts in written,” he said.

An armed standoff took place in the town of Mukacheve in Zakarpattia region on July 11. The clash involved armed men from the Right Sector, supporters of PM Mykhaylo Lanyo and law-enforces. More than 10 people were injured, but no one is officially reported to be killed in the conflict. A special operation involving the SBU and the National Guard was launched.