You're reading: Yatsenyuk dismisses Saakashvili’s accusations regarding oligarchs’ control of government

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk dismissed Odesa regional administration chief and former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's claims that Ukrainian oligarchs control the executive branch.

‘I would like to address the head of the Odesa regional state administration: I understand all his emotionality, and I understand what hard times he is having now. It’s hard for everyone. We all are united here, and therefore emotions and groundless accusations play only into the hands of those who are against reforms and against real changes in Ukraine. It is even more unseemly for a former president to resort to lying accusations. But I am his first ally,’ Yatseniuk said at a news briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

The prime minister said he valued Saakashvili’s position on customs, ‘but everything needs to be within the framework of the law and after an investigation.’

‘Discussing prospects of cooperation with the Odesa regional administration head, Yatseniuk said both of them bore responsibility proportionate to the offices they occupied.

‘Mikheil should work, and he will work. I don’t react to any ad hominem attacks. The matter is not about persons or emotions. The matter is about responsibility for the country’s future, my responsibility to Ukraine and Mikheil’s responsibility to the Odesa residents, and we are united here,’ Yatseniuk said.

Saakashvili had said earlier on Channel Five that the Ukrainian government was controlled by oligarchs. He said the prime minister had refused to study a report on air fares and State Aviation Service chief Denys Antoniuk’s work. Antoniuk had recently been suspended following a scandal but then reinstated in office.

‘What interests is Yatseniuk pursuing – (billionaire Ihor) Kolomoisky’s or dozens of millions of Ukrainian passengers’? Yatseniuk yesterday made a decision in Kolomoisky’s favor. Just the way he regularly made decisions in favor of (businessman Rinat) Akhmetov and others,’ Saakashvili said. ‘All these oligarchic interests control the Ukrainian government, he said.

‘Antoniuk is (again) in his office. And while he was not in the office, this service did not make a single decision against Kolomoisky,’ Saakashvili said.

He said he had opposed Antoniuk for four months, charging that, while the Aviation Service chief is an ‘absolute nobody,’ he decides what air fares should cost. ‘This money will go to Kolomoisky’s pocket, and we can only guess with whom he will share it then,’ he said.

Saakashvili categorically dismissed the possibility that he could replace Yatseniuk as prime minister. ‘I am not going to become prime minister of Ukraine. But I want the prime minister to act in the interests of the Ukrainian people rather than in the interests of Kolomoisky, Akhmetov, or someone else,’ Saakashvili said.Saakashvili also said in the TV interview that the State Fiscal Service, apart from its chief Roman Nasirov, is also ‘controlled by former people from ex-President Viktor) Yanukovych’s regime, like (parliamentarian and businessman Vitaliy) Khomutynnik and (advisor to the State Fiscal Service chief Hennadiy) Romanenko, who was appointed under Yanukovych.

‘Who is Nasirov? They can replace ten people like Nasirov, and yet Khomutynnik and Romanenko will remain sitting there,’ Saakashvili said.

‘We are talking about a system that has taken root deeply and is shady,’ he said.

Saakashvili cited an example of Economic Development Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, who has been unable for more than a month to dismiss the heads of two state-run enterprises, and they ‘haven’t even replied to the minister’s letters.’

‘These enterprises caused Ukraine damages of Hr 110 billion last year. And their chiefs report to Martynenko,’ Saakashvili said.’

‘All decisions inside and around the government are sabotaged,’ he said.