“If Bashuk doesn’t mend his ways, you will see pressure mounting on businessmen. The relationships with businesses will change for the worse, as Bashuk will try to wring money for his political bosses,” he added.

The political party behind Bashuk is the SDPU, the Lviv lawmaker says. “When his predecessor Khyliuk held the office, several of his deputies were loyal to the SDPU.”

Meanwhile, Ya. Rushchyshyk says there is no reason to dismiss Khyliuk. “Khyliuk divorced the tax administration from politics. He was fired following some backstage schemes of which I’m not aware,” he explained.