Oleksandr Hereha

Biography

Oleksandr Hereha entered the Verkhovna Rada of the IX convocation as an independent candidate and member of the “For Concrete Deeds” party, which he founded. He ran in district No. 192 (Horodok, Dunayivtsi, Chemerivtsi, and Yarmolyntsi districts, Khmelnytskyi region).

In parliament, he joined the “For the Future” parliamentary group. He was elected a member of the Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy. Later, he became the head of the subcommittee on general tax administration, corporate income tax, accounting, and auditing.

Prior to this, he was elected twice as an independent candidate from the same district. He voted for the dictatorial laws of Yanukovych. Following the victory of the Revolution of Dignity, he left the “Party of Regions” faction and the party itself.

He is the owner and beneficiary of over 80 companies, including being a co-owner of the “Epicentr K” group of companies (“Epicentr” and “Nova Linia” hypermarkets) and is involved in the agricultural business. Radio Svoboda noted that an “Epicentr” hypermarket operates in the temporarily occupied territories under a new sign—”Halaktyka”—and suggested that the politician may not have withdrawn his business from those territories. The MP publicly denies such links. The “Popular Front” party achieved a court order to open proceedings against the Herehas regarding collaborationist activities. It is worth adding, however, that a number of “Epicentr” stores were damaged by shelling in Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Oleksandr Hereha is a subject of anti-corruption investigations. His wife, Halyna Hereha, was a member of the Kyiv City Council for several terms and its secretary; during the flight of Mayor Leonid Chernovetskyi, she served as acting mayor and presided over Kyiv City Council sessions.

Timeline of Key Events

2025

Voted for the liquidation of the independence of anti-corruption bodies, the NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Draft #12414). After the law was passed, a protest began near Bankova Street, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the law that same day. Subsequently, the President submitted a project that restored the independence of anti-corruption bodies. By the end of July, as a result of public pressure and pressure from international partners, the parliamentary majority voted for Draft #13533, which returned powers to the anti-corruption bodies.

In the same year, he voted for the so-called “Ihor Mazepa Law” (Draft 12089). This legislative initiative essentially reflected the demands of unscrupulous businesses. The law provides for the “resetting” of claims regarding forest and coastal land grabs if 10 years have passed since the land entered private hands. This means that all such land grabs that occurred over the last decade could be legalised. If the 10-year period for the land grab has not yet passed, then before filing a lawsuit to save the property, a deposit equal to the value of the property one wished to recover must be placed in a court account from the state or local budget. Despite a petition demanding a veto gathering over 25,000 signatures, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the document. The first victim of the “Ihor Mazepa Law” was the case concerning Protasiv Yar, which was defended by the late scout and Kyiv resident Roman Ratushnyi.

That same year, he supported the controversial project by Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, which abolished the Commercial Code of Ukraine (#6013). The initiators of this law declared an expansion of economic freedoms, but the law abolished the fundamental norms of state-business interaction and the principles of managing economic activity in the state and communal sectors of the economy. A number of civic organisations stressed that this law carries risks for national security and that its adoption would result in a large-scale redistribution of the country, given that the Verkhovna Rada had not approved a list of property exempt from privatisation.

2024

The Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv ordered the Office of the Prosecutor General to enter information into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations under the article “collaborationist activity” regarding possible payments to the manager of the former “Epicentr” stores in the captured Donetsk region, Hennadii Halchuk, who became a deputy from the pro-Kremlin “United Russia” party. A complaint was filed with the court by representatives of the “Narodovladdya” (“Rule of the People”) party, including Yuriy Levchenko. As a result, the Office of the Prosecutor General entered information into the Register regarding the MP and founder of the “Epicentr” chain, Oleksandr Hereha, and his wife under Art. 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“collaborationist activity”).

2023

Did not vote for Draft #7457 “On the Legalisation of Medical Cannabis,” which allowed the production of medical cannabis in Ukraine for the rehabilitation of wounded military personnel, including for the treatment of PTSD. The adoption of the law was advocated by the “Patients of Ukraine” civic organisation.

Journalistic investigations established that the “Epicentr” retail chains, founded by the Hereha couple, continued to function in the temporarily occupied territories under a new brand—”Halaktyka”—after the full-scale invasion. At the same time, a number of signs indicated continuity: elements of the corporate design, internal corporate materials, and part of the staff were retained, in particular Hennadii Halchuk, who simultaneously held positions in the governing bodies of “Halaktyka” and received remuneration from the Herehas. The network continued to expand: in 2022, a new retail facility was opened in destroyed Mariupol. The company’s activities also included public activity for the benefit of occupation administrations. At the same time, Hereha publicly denied both personal ties to Russia and involvement in the activities of retail chains in the occupied territories. According to him, control over these assets was lost immediately after the start of the occupation, and the family received all information about subsequent events surrounding the business exclusively from the media.

In the same year, he did not vote for bill #9296-d on strengthening the financial monitoring of PEPs (politically exposed persons). A key change provided for by the bill was the introduction of a lifelong PEP status for top officials instead of the current three-year limit after leaving office. Furthermore, the document strengthened the liability of primary financial monitoring entities (such as banks) for unjustified refusal to provide financial services.

Representatives of the “Narodovladdya” party sent a statement to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) regarding the “commission of a criminal offence (collaborationist activity) by the owners of the ‘Epicentr’ chain, Oleksandr and Halyna Hereha.” The SBU forwarded the statement from the party to the Office of the Prosecutor General, from which a response was received stating that the document “does not contain objective factual data that would reliably indicate the presence of signs of criminal offences,” therefore, “there are no grounds for entering information into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations.”

Journalists from Bihus.info reported that the “Epicentr” company purchased at least five luxury cars for nearly one million dollars after the start of the full-scale invasion.

Abstained from voting for the immediate opening of electronic declarations during martial law.

2022

Did not vote for the urban planning “reform” (#5655), authored by the head of the “Servant of the People” party, Olena Shuliak. The civic sector and media criticised this legislative initiative; Chatham House (UK) noted that with such rules of the game, there were every chance for the emergence of construction cartels. The European Parliament warned President Zelenskyy against signing this law, and the European Commission also provided its critical remarks.

After the start of the full-scale invasion, he travelled abroad to Poland.

2021

According to Forbes.ua, the total assets of Oleksandr and Halyna Hereha amounted to 1.7 billion dollars. They ranked 6th in the ranking of the richest Ukrainians.

Thanks to the Pandora Papers leak, journalists discovered that Hereha and his wife were the owners of a network of offshore companies associated with business in the territory of occupied Crimea. Documents from international providers confirmed that the couple controlled five Cypriot companies through a network of offshore entities and two trusts—Fundationsanstalt and Gold Taurus Stiftung—which were not listed in the MP’s 2020 declaration. In particular, two companies—Samelio Holdings Limited and Edlagor Enterprises Limited—were not included in the reporting. The latter owned the “Novacentr K” chain of construction hypermarkets in Simferopol and Sevastopol, which had operated under the “Epicentr” brand before the occupation of Crimea. Journalists established that the Herehas were the beneficial owners of these structures at least until 2019, continuing financial operations with the Crimean business even after the occupation of the peninsula by Russia.

2020

Supported Resolution #4104, by which parliament approved its representatives to the competition commission for the selection of the leadership of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. The composition of this commission drew large-scale criticism from civil society, EU delegations, and G7 countries, as it included individuals about whose independence and integrity there were doubts.

Did not vote for the “anti-Kolomoiskyi law” (Draft #2571-d), which provided for the prohibition of returning insolvent banks removed from the market to their former owners.

In the same year, a resonant scandal erupted related to the supply of medical products from China. The world’s largest transport aircraft, the An-225 “Mriya,” delivered a record volume of anti-COVID-19 supplies to Kyiv, which, according to official statements, were intended for medical institutions. However, it later turned out that a significant part of the cargo was intended for commercial sale through the “Epicentr” chain. The company explained that they had financed the “Mriya” flight, and that both humanitarian and commercial shipments were on board. Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a letter had been received from MP Hereha with a proposal to purchase medical supplies to counter the coronavirus epidemic from his company, “Epicentr K.” Deputies of the “Holos” faction sent letters to NABU and NACP requesting an investigation into the MP’s possible corruption.

The situation attracted the attention of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, which announced a possible violation by Hereha of the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Prevention of Corruption.” The NACP repeatedly invited the MP to provide explanations about the essence of the committed offence and, if there were grounds, to draw up an administrative protocol. Hereha ignored the summons to the NACP.

The politician did not declare real estate in the Spanish town of Benicasim, a portion of which local journalists valued at nearly six million.

2019

Elected to the Verkhovna Rada of the IX convocation as an independent candidate and member of the “For Concrete Deeds” party in district #192 (Khmelnytskyi region). Joined the “For the Future” parliamentary group. Elected as a member of the Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy. Later became the head of the subcommittee on general tax administration, corporate income tax, accounting, and auditing.

2018

Placed at number 56 on the sanctions list of Ukrainians published by the Russian Federation.

In the same year, a confrontation unfolded in the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the appointment of the head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration. Representatives of the “Popular Front” opposed the candidacy of Vadym Lozovyi, who was considered close to Hereha. At the time of his appointment, Lozovyi was non-partisan, but a year earlier he had headed the faction of the local political force “For Concrete Deeds.”

2017

The Hereha family became co-founders of the “Pershyi Podilskyi” TV channel.

During the parliamentary race, the “Pershyi Podilskyi” TV channel aired stories featuring Hereha, including “Project for painting the church at Dunayivtsi station presented to parishioners” and “Ukrainian Weightlifting Championship held in Khmelnytskyi region.” Along with this, materials were broadcast that had signs of campaigning for the candidate. The stories covered large-scale festive events—for example, the celebration of the birthdays of settlements with the participation of Ukrainian pop performers, in particular the singer Lama. The related civic organisation “For Concrete Deeds” acted as the organizer of these events. At the same time, Hereha did not reflect the payment for the TV channel’s services and the support of the civic organisation in his financial report.

In the same year, the Logistics Department of the “Lviv Railway” concluded an agreement for the purchase of 900 mops with a wringing mechanism for 99,000 UAH with the company “Epicentr K,” which belonged to People’s Deputy Hereha and his wife. The only competitor to “Epicentr K” in these tenders was the company “Nova Linia,” the ultimate beneficiaries of which were also the Hereha couple. This was reported by the online publication “Nashi Hroshi. Lviv.”

2015

Founded the “For Concrete Deeds” political party and ran for the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council from this party as the first candidate.

2014

Elected as a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the VIII convocation as an independent candidate in majoritarian district #192 (Khmelnytskyi region). Elected as a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Tax and Customs Policy.

According to the “OPORA” civic network, the politician engaged in indirect voter bribery in the district. The deputy organised a free trip to a football match, organised a prize draw at a village day celebration, and handed out gifts to medical professionals. The “Independent Civic Portal” wrote that during a pre-election meeting with candidate for people’s deputy Hereha, “titushky” (hired thugs) beat up his opponents.

Voted for the dictatorial laws of Yanukovych. Following the victory of the Revolution of Dignity, he left the “Party of Regions” faction and the party itself.

In the same year, the companies “Epicentr K,” “Nova Linia,” and “Trading House ‘Tradecom Inko’,” the ultimate owners of which were Halyna and Oleksandr Hereha, founded the company “Rusline Co.” in Pushkino, Moscow region. This firm was one of the largest property tax payers to the budget of the annexed city of Sevastopol.

2013

The company “Epicentr K” acquired a controlling stake in the “Nova Linia” construction hypermarkets. After 2014, this chain operated in occupied Crimea.

2012

Elected as a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the VII convocation as a non-partisan independent candidate in majoritarian district #192 (Khmelnytskyi region). Joined the “Party of Regions.”

In this year, according to the CHESNO Movement, he was caught “button-pushing” (voting on behalf of other MPs).

2003

Founded the company “Epicentr K,” the largest chain of construction and household hypermarkets in Ukraine.

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