Petition for Parimatch sanctions garners support from 25,000 signatories

A petition urging President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to reassess the decision to impose sanctions on Parimatch has garnered 25,000 signatures.

According to Ukrainian law, once a petition accumulates 25,000 signatures, it is submitted to the president for review. President Zelenskyy now has a period of 10 days to provide a response to the petition.

Earlier this year in March, Parimatch halted its operations in Ukraine following the signing of Presidential Decree No. 145/2023 by President Zelenskyy. This decree implemented a decision made by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) and resulted in sanctions being imposed on 287 companies, including several betting entities, as well as 120 individuals. As a consequence, Parimatch faced a 50-year ban on operating within Ukraine.

At the time, Parimatch appealed to President Zelenskyy to review the NSDC’s decision, asserting that the information considered by the Council was inaccurate.

In a recent statement issued on June 8th, Parimatch expressed how the sanctions have adversely affected “hundreds of thousands of citizens who are now unable to access or withdraw their funds.” The company further stated that the ban stemmed from an unjust and flawed investigation that falsely accused them of conducting business in Russia.

Petition details

Parimatch emphasized that the petition also showed support for Ukraine’s broader efforts in the face of the ongoing war.

Maxym Liashko, the managing partner of Parimatch’s management company Energame, affirmed that Parimatch has been backing Ukraine since the invasion.

“As Ukrainian patriots, we have received unwavering support from our fellow countrymen and countrywomen,” … “From the very first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we have stood with our country and swiftly terminated any remaining business ties with the aggressor country.”

Liashko expressed his confidence in President Zelenskyy’s ability to examine the situation and reinstate Parimatch’s operations in Ukraine.

“We have faith in our President, who upholds the rule of law and embraces liberal democratic values. We believe he will take the necessary steps to review the unjust sanctions imposed on us through a flawed and unfair process.”