The showman, discussing the New Year's corporate parties of the stars, noted that some politicians ordered hosts for family holidays.
“There are people who order for themselves personally. By the way, I hosted one such New Year’s Eve. Personally for the family. There is, however, a family of about 70 people: friends, friends of friends, relatives,” he said. “By the way, this is – you know who? This is the former minister, Lord, of health – what is the name? What is the name of our ministry? In short, the Ministry of Health. Stepanov. And he was also the former head of the printing plant “Ukraine.”
Zhupnik stated that he worked for Stepanov as a host for family events before he was suspected of money laundering.
“I was such a family host. But he was normal then. And then something went wrong,” the showman summed up.
Context
Stepanov was the director of the printing plant “Ukraine” from December 2011 to January 2017, then until April 2019 he headed the Odessa regional state administration.
He held the position of head of the Ministry of Health from March 2020 to May 2021.
July 20, 2023 to Stepanov reported suspicion according to Part 5 of Art. 191 (appropriation of property) and part 3 of Art. 209 (money laundering) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine as part of an investigation into a corruption scheme at this state-owned enterprise. In September, he was arrested in absentia because he had left Ukraine.
In May 2025, Stepanov was suspected of receiving excess profits from the use of state symbols. He was accused of receiving a bribe in the form of copyrights for the design of security elements of international passports and ID cards, as well as of legalizing income received from their use.
