Heads are rolling – and more will roll – of police officers who stand in the way of progress as Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov defines it.
Avakov said he’s battling those in the 200,000-member Interior Ministry who are obstructing his attempts to revamp the nation’s highly distrust law enforcement agency.
Avakov talked about the changes on July 10 during a televised meeting with President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and headof the Kyiv patrol police Olexander Fascevich.
Avakov promised to fire everyone who obstructed the new patrol service.
“This is the logic of the process. Yes, it is brutal to the current employees of the Interior Ministry. And it will be even more furious. I want you all to understand it,” said Avakov, referring to the Interior Ministry officials in attendance.
Avakov began his battle by firing two militia members of the Obolonskydistrict in Kyiv. They were fired for poor performance, he said.
Hesaid the head of Desnyansky district militia was already fired earlier, followed by the dismissal of two majors in the Obolonsky district of Kyiv, Avakov said. He warned another high-ranking officer, he said.
The firings stem from the officers’ opposition to the new patrol force,he said, and conflicts between the new and old services. Avakov said some of the old guard were not arresting people for crimes or investigating them properly.
Poroshenko promised to sign into law during the next two days legislation that grants the new officers legal powers.
Kyiv Post writer VeronikaMelkozerova can be reached at [email protected]
