Ukraine appoints president’s nominee as prosecutor general

KYIV, July 27 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s parliament appointed a lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s party as prosecutor basic on Wednesday, a position in which he will oversee war crimes investigations following Russia’s invasion.

Andriy Kostin, a lawyer who has been a member of parliament because 2019, was nominated by Zelenskiy next the president’s abrupt dismissal of his ally Iryna Venediktova this thirty day period for failing to root out Russian spies. examine much more

Kostin, 49, received the backing of 299 members of the 450-seat chamber.

Some opponents of Zelenskiy’s Servant of the Individuals celebration expressed issue at what they observed as the political appointment of a Zelenskiy ally, but the president’s team stated Kostin’s professionalism designed him the finest probable prospect.

“To be genuine, Mr Kostin turned out to be an best candidate who, in a somewhat tricky predicament, will definitely be able to optimise the get the job done of the Prosecutor’s Workplace,” stated presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.

Parliament dismissed Venediktova and domestic safety agency chief Ivan Bakanov on July 19, two times after Zelenskiy suspended them for failing to rid their businesses of alleged Russian spies.

Venediktova has claimed more than 20,000 suspected war crimes cases are remaining investigated by Ukraine, and a Ukrainian courtroom sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison in May well for killing an unarmed civilian pursuing Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion. examine a lot more

Russia has denied involvement in war crimes in what it calls its “particular military procedure” to secure Russian speakers and root out risky nationalists. Ukraine suggests Moscow is waging an unprovoked war of conquest. go through extra

OPPOSITION CRITICISM

Venediktova also had duties for liaising with the International Criminal Court docket and with other nations that have pledged to coordinate investigations into suspected war crimes. Podolyak claimed Kostin was effectively suited to this kind of a purpose.

The appointment of a new prosecutor basic opens the way to Ukraine fulfilling a motivation to Western partners to appoint a head of its anti-corruption prosecutor’s business office.

Just after months of delay, knowledgeable investigator Oleksandr Klymenko was preferred for that role earlier this thirty day period but his appointment needs to be signed by the prosecutor basic. browse additional

Regardless of Podolyak’s assist for Kostin, opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko questioned whether it was democratic to appointment a member of the president’s occasion as prosecutor basic.

Referring to the Greek goddess who personifies justice and fairness, he explained: “We require Themis with her eyes closed, not with a bash ticket in her pocket.”

Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Modifying by Timothy Heritage

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