Yanukovych-ally could be voted in as prosecutor general today

Yesterday President Viktor Yanukovych is nominating Viktor Pshonka for the position of prosecutor general; Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, could approve the appointment as soon as today, according to media reports. Yanukovych sacked the previous prosecutor, Oleksandr Medvedko, who has held the position since 2005, this week. Brad Wells: The Rada, controlled by the Yanukovych-friendly majority, is sure to rubber stamp this appointment as soon as it comes up for vote. Pshonka, the Donetsk regional prosecutor in the late 1990s when Yanukovych was governor there, is seen as a presidential ally. Daily Segodnya reported today that Pshonka’s main task will be to prosecute former Prime Minister and current opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. The task would be consistent with the government’s actions against opposition leaders since coming to power earlier this year, which included placing former Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn on Interpol’s wanted list.