Relief As Socialist Winemaker Is Appointed Interior Minister

Vasyl Tsushko, one of the leaders of the Socialist party, was appointed interior minister on Friday, replacing Yuri Lutsenko, who had held the job since February 2005. The appointment represented a compromise between the Socialists and the Regions party, who had been pushing for one of their allies to get the job. Tsushko is a former state wine factory director from Bessarabia, a wine-growing region wedged between Moldova and the Black Sea. Tom Warner: Tsushko’s appointment instead of a Regions party figure is a great relief, as he is seen as relatively politically neutral and unlikely to try to get police involved in political or business conflicts. He is believed to be a major player in the wine business and he often authors legislation affecting that sector.