You're reading: Avakov appointed head united opposition’s regional election staff

The former chairman of Kharkiv Regional State Administration and head of the regional branch of Batkivschyna all-Ukrainian Union, Arsen Avakov, has been appointed head of the election campaign headquarters of the united opposition in Kharkiv region, according to the Web site of the party.

Vitaliy Nemylostyvy was appointed the head of Kharkiv regional
campaign headquarters of the Batkivschyna party, first deputy head of
Kharkiv regional branch of Batkivschyna Iryna Yefremova was appointed
his first deputy.

It was reported earlier that Avakov had been charged on January 31,
2012, with “abuse of office leading to serious consequences” through
unlawfully expropriating 55 hectares of land near the village of
Pisochyn in Kharkiv region and changing its status. He was also declared
internationally wanted, and the Chervonozavodsky District Court in
Kharkiv granted an investigator’s request on sanctioning his arrest.

Information on Avakov’s detention in Frosinone, Italy, was confirmed
on March 27. After that, the leadership of Batkivschyna sent letters to
the Interpol secretary-general and the Italian government, asking them
to take into consideration “obvious political motives” behind Avakov’s
criminal prosecution and release him.

A Rome court ruled to release Avakov from custody on April 12.

Avakov led Kharkiv Regional State Administration from February 2004 until February 2010.

Batkivschyna leader is former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia
Tymoshenko, who is currently serving a seven-year prison term for abuse
of office in signing gas supply agreements with Russia in 2009.