You're reading: Parliament appoints new prosecutor general, SBU head

Two of the most powerful posts in Ukraine were filled on Feb. 24 by parliament, which is racing to set up a new government since taking power with the impeachment of Viktor Yanukovch as president two days ago.

Oleg Makhnitski, a lawmaker with Svoboda Party, is the new prosecutor general.

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, a lawmaker with the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms party, is the new Security Service of Ukraine chief.

They will bring a big change — if only politically — to the posts, which were staff by Yanukovych loyalists. 

The former prosecutor general, Viktor Pshonka, is now in hiding. In office, Pshonka made no attempt to hide his loyalty to Yanukovych and his tenure was criticized for launching criminal cases against Yanukovych’s political enemies, ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko chief among them.

Oleksandr Yakymenko, the former Security Services of Ukraine head, had a less notable tenure.

The new appointees will be watched closely to see whether they aggressively investigate and prosecute serious crimes, even those involving powerful and high-ranking officials. At the same time, they will be judged on their evenhandedness — in particular whether they repeat past patterns of politicized justice.

They both pledged to do the jobs right.

“I will do everything for justice, rule of law be imposed in Ukraine and to bring all those guilty for responsibility and set those innocent go free,” Makhnitski said after 312 out of 450 lawmakers voted to approve his appointment as prosecutor general. Born in Lviv, Makhnitski 44, worked several years as prosecutor in the western Ukrainian city.

Nalyvaichenko, 49, headed the Security Services of Ukraine in 2009-2010 under President Viktor Yushchenko. He was newly appointed on this post with the suppor of 346 lawmakers. Speaking in parliament, he pledged to “protect people’s lives” and apply the law fairly.

Parliament is planning to make the biggest appointment on Feb. 25 — that of prime minister — and also hopefully get a new Cabinet of Ministers by week’s end.

Kyiv Post staff writer Oksana Grytsenko can be reached at [email protected]