Fire everyone

Ukrainian Prime Minister ousts opposition from government

Moscow and Kyiv are close to final agreements in the energy sector, and Ukraine intends to move towards the Common Economic Space. These are the results of yesterday's meeting in Novo-Ogarevo between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

As Vladimir Putin said, a number of documents will be signed for his visit to Kyiv on December 22: “They are preparing for signing, they are in the final stage. It is very pleasant that energy experts are reaching final agreements.” In turn, Mr. Yanukovych said that the “unification of tariffs” currently being discussed by Russia and Ukraine is the first step towards a Common Economic Space. “Did I understand you correctly: Ukraine is thinking about the Common Economic Space?” - asked the Russian president. “Of course,” confirmed Viktor Yanukovych. The Ukrainian prime minister also proposed sending Russian cargo through Ukraine, which is currently going to Europe through the Baltic states, adding in this regard: “We are building good roads, we propose to build a Kyiv-Moscow road.”

Meanwhile, in Ukraine itself, the government of Viktor Yanukovych is busy dealing with the personnel issue , pushing out the “orange” ministers who were appointed at the suggestion of President Viktor Yushchenko. Yesterday, in response to the corresponding appeal from the Rada, the prime minister agreed to the dismissal of the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Yuriy Lutsenko. True, the parliament lacked three votes to dismiss him.

The temporary commission to investigate abuses in the Ministry of Internal Affairs found evidence of corruption, in particular the illegal registration of cars, the creation of state-owned enterprises in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the illegal provision of housing to police officers. Lutsenko is accused of “politicization of the ministry’s activities”, as well as reluctance to fight corruption. Lutsenko himself said that the Kyiv Court of Appeal found him not guilty of corruption. It is still unclear who will take the post of head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs if he is fired. Two members of the ruling Anti-Crisis Coalition - the Socialist Party and the Party of Regions - have their own candidates for this post.

Yesterday, the Rada also received a proposal from the prime minister to dismiss the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the “orange” Boris Tarasyuk , “in accordance with the proposal of the Anti-Crisis Coalition of Parliament.” This minister is elected to the government according to the presidential quota. Tarasyuk is accused of repeatedly violating the Universal National Unity Agreement signed in August by parliamentary parties. Although Universal established the procedure for joining NATO through an all-Ukrainian referendum, Mr. Tarasyuk argues that this will happen “already in 2007,” the submission says. The minister’s “unconstructive work” “caused a deterioration in relations with the Russian Federation” and also interfered with “preparations for the official visit” of the head of government to the United States, which “damages the national interests” of Ukraine. The prime minister's entourage expects that if Tarasyuk is fired, his duties will be performed by the first deputy, Vladimir Ogryzko.

Yesterday, the Rada also registered a resolution by representatives of the Anti-Crisis Coalition on the resignation of Defense Minister Anatoly Gritsenko , who was also elected to the government under the presidential quota. He is accused of “violations in the sphere of privatization” of army property, as well as the death of military personnel during exercises. Those close to the president claim that the procedure for the resignation of the ministers of defense and foreign affairs is not prescribed in law. Therefore, the Rada does not have clear mechanisms for their dismissal. Tarasyuk said yesterday that the legal conflict around these resignations can only be resolved by the constitutional court, which the president will be forced to appeal to.

In addition, yesterday President Yushchenko himself submitted to the Rada a proposal for the resignation of the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Igor Drizhchany. By his decree, the president transferred Drizhchany to the position of deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, having previously promoted him in rank - from colonel general to army general.

“These personnel decisions are explained by several processes,” Ukrainian political scientist Andrei Ermolaev told Vremya Novostei. “The Party of Regions of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is now trying to form a full-fledged government, getting rid of ministers who have declared their opposition status.” The impetus for such actions was the statement of the presidential bloc “Our Ukraine” about switching to the opposition.

Against the backdrop of a scandal at the top, “intrigues have continued for more than a month between the security agencies” - the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the SBU. Due to the weak system of control over the security agencies reporting to the president, “influence groups” began to use them in confrontation with each other. This causes distrust of them both on the part of the president and on the part of the Rada. “Nowadays it is easier to change the leadership of a number of law enforcement agencies, even under the pretext of transferring to another job, than to figure out who is right and who is wrong,” says Vremya Novostey’s interlocutor.

Svetlana STEPANENKO, Kyiv, Ivan GORDEEV