Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Lutsenko should step down as Ukraine’s police chief; given that he won’t, efforts should begin to prosecute him for his assault against Kyiv’s mayor

ify>Ukrainian politics sunk to a new low when the internal affairs minister struck Kyiv Mayor Leonid Chernovetskiy following an argument at a National Security and Defense Council meeting on Jan. 18 in the presence of high-level government officials.

The assaulter deemed it a “masculine slap,” while the victim claimed he was “traitorously attacked from behind” and punched in the face, among other things.

Mind you, Lutsenko is Ukraine’s police commissioner. As typical, Ukraine’s top prosecutor said he will investigate. History proves how fruitless that is likely to be.

Incidentally, Ukraine’s pro-Western leaders are supposed to demonstrate a new political culture that is based on Western values of respect, equality and tolerance. When they behave in such a way that thuggish Party of Regions politicians are even scolding them, they’re undermining their own credibility.

Chernovetskiy’s rampant corruption is notorious among Kyiv’s residents and he’s not a popular guy. But the worst thing a decent person can do is to make others sympathize with the bad guy (Lutsenko is no angel himself).

As humbling as it is to admit, the Party of Regions is right. The country’s police chief needs to be a model of lawful behavior, showing that the best way to settle conflicts is through the courts, not with slaps or fists.

Lutsenko’s action sends a terrible message to police under his command. Starting brawls at a high-level government meeting, lowers the standards among the country’s law enforcement bodies.

Ukrainian reporters speculated Lutsenko’s gesture was intentional – done at a high-profile meeting, just before a slow weekend news cycle, embracing the spirit of the party’s clenched fist. It should come as no surprise that Lutsenko has mayoral ambitions.

Afterwards, Lutsenko called his encounter with the mayor “personal relations between two people” and reaffirmed that he was not going to resign.

Lutsenko should step down as Ukraine’s police chief. Given that he won’t, efforts should begin to prosecute him for his assault against Kyiv’s mayor, and Ukraine’s leaders should take a stand.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko claims she is devoted to cleaning up the police force’s corruption and moments of brutality. Now is the perfect chance. Ukraine’s president and prime minister should take the lead and demand Lutsenko’s resignation.