Deputies should normalize the law in terms of collaboration as soon as possible and finally cancel the farmers’ taxation in the occupied territories and in the war zone. During the Forum "Dialogue of civil society, business and government: challenges of wartime", the adviser to the Chair of UAC on issues of interaction with state authorities, Dmytro Kokhan, called for this.

The corresponding draft laws have been in the Verkhovna Rada for months, but they are ignored. In particular, draft law No. 7646 "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Citizens and the Legal Regime in the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine" and Draft Law No. 7647 "On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine on improvement of responsibility for collaborative activity".

Also, farmers in the occupied territory should not pay a united tax of fourth group. Deputies should adopt Draft Law No. 7720 "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and other laws on ensuring the administration of taxes, fees and a single contribution during martial law".

In general, during the event, the speakers noted that the Ukrainian agricultural sector is going through difficult times. Farmers are constantly faced new challenges: from blocked exports to rising production costs. Two significant obstacles were added: the lack of clear definitions of what "collaborationism" is and the tax payment by agrarian enterprises in the occupied territories, says Dmytro Kokhan, adviser to the UAC on issues of interaction with state authorities.

"Unfortunately, we had agricultural enterprises that were occupied three hours after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. They didn't even have time to leave. These people are heroes because they continued working to survive. Today, the legislation establishes that any activity in the occupied territories is considered collaboration and faces criminal responsibility. The shining example is Kharkiv Region, which was liberated this fall. Now there are thousands of people who are subjects of the violations prescribed in this law.  We appeal for draft laws No. 7647 and No. 7647 to regulate clearly who is a traitor and who is working for survival," said Dmytro Kokhan.

But he added that the issue of farmers’ taxation of group 4, whose lands were in the occupied territory, is also acute. These farmers have lost the opportunity to earn and receive income, but are forced to pay their own funds to the budget, noted Dmytro Kokhan.

Danylo Hetmantsev, the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, who was present at the forum, assured that the law on collaboration and taxation for farmers in the occupied territories should be adopted as soon as possible.

"Common economic activity should not be defined as "collaboration". This is my opinion, which I have stated since the beginning of the full-scale war. I believe that the relevant regulations should be adopted as soon as possible. They have already been negotiated at the highest level, and now lawyers determine the legal definition of the term "traitor". Frankly, the draft law is not popular. As for the payment of taxes by farmers of the 4th group, I initiated this norm and I also consider the need for its immediate launch", - noted Danylo Hetmantsev.

For reference: The forum "Dialogue of civil society, business and government: challenges of wartime" has been taking place for four years. The event is the main platform for coordinating actions. It determines the TOP-10 priorities of Ukrainian business in terms of institutional and economic reforms. The participants are the representatives of more than 100 business associations that unite almost 40 thousand enterprises and companies from various branches of the Ukrainian economy.