President Yanukovych formally dismisses Chernovetsky from Kyiv Administration

President Viktor Yanukovych relieved Leonid Chernovetsky from his position as head of the Kyiv City Administration with an order yesterday, installing ally Oleksandr Popov in his place. Chernovetsky was elected Kyiv mayor in 2006 and re-elected in a snap election in 2008. Brad Wells: The president’s decrees yesterday formalized an arrangement already effectively in place since Popov was named deputy head of the Kyiv City Administration this June, and is consistent with Yanukovych’s policy of consolidating power wherever possible. Popov has been the most visible city official since summer, with Chernovetsky, an ally of former President Viktor Yushchenko, all but disappearing from public view. Chernovetsky, shortly after election as mayor, was appointed head of the Kyiv City Administration by presidential decree, following the arrangements with previous mayors of the capital. Kyivans are unlikely to react much to the unilateral removal of an elected official – Chernovetsky and his team has been implicated in corrupt and fraudulent activities while in office, while the mayor’s behavior was at times so eccentric he earned the nickname “Cosmo.” As Popov has been effectively running the capital for months, we see no implications for Kyiv’s Eurobonds.