Ukraine has witnessed embezzlement in the funeral sector. Over the past three years, 'body hunters' have become more active, leading to an increase in corruption. This was reported by Le Monde, citing information from 'Glavkom'.
Shadow Ritual Business
An employee of the funeral bureau 'Anubis' revealed the actions of his boss, who instructed them to be the first at the scene of a tragedy to offer their services to the families of the deceased. He also mentioned that competition in the market is very high, and there are deals with the police, hospitals, and morgues for obtaining information about deaths for a monetary reward.
Manager Mykhailo Serebryakov admitted that he is aware of these practices and noted that they emerged even before the escalation of the conflict with Russia. Furthermore, he highlighted the increase in prices for funeral services during the war.
Hidden Corruption
An employee of 'Anubis' disclosed a scheme of payments to informants, who receive money for providing information about the deceased. He also emphasized that now colleagues are forced to relay data through the head office for a reward.
Journalists found that officials are also involved in corruption at military funerals, receiving funds from funeral agencies. This leads to unnecessary expenses for families in such sorrowful situations.
Fighting Corruption
The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine has developed a plan to combat corruption in the ritual industry, recognizing secret agreements with law enforcement and medical personnel as violations of the rights of bereaved families.
Journalists also highlighted the growing interest in 'green funerals' as an ecological alternative to traditional funerals. This practice involves the use of biodegradable materials to reduce environmental impact.
Illegal deals and corruption in the ritual sphere have not only led to financial losses for the families of the deceased but also threaten a dignified farewell to the deceased. The government is taking measures to stop these criminal activities and restore order in Ukraine's funeral industry.