The Ukrainian president's family influence is growing as they take a tighter grip on the state's finances, which is having a positive effect on revenues but raising questions about transparency. The 33-year-old Sergei Arbuzov's appointment to the post of head of the National Bank of Ukraine in December 2010 left many scratching their heads – Arbuzov was a complete unknown in Ukraine's banking world, except for a six-month "internship" in 2010 as chairman of the board of state-owned bank Ukreksimank, followed by a three-month "internship" as deputy head of the central bank, which apparently qualified him for the top role in Ukrainian banking. Arbuzov's one redeeming virtue, it seemed, was that his mother was the CEO of a small Donetsk bank owned by his friend, President Viktor Yanuovych's son Aleksandr. Yanuovych Jr is a regional businessman with banking and real estate interests.
Business New Europe: Yanukovych family tightens the screws on Ukraine’s finances
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanuovych
