Avakov is among most effective officials and will remain, Zelensky says

Internal Affairs
Minister Arsen Avakov, strongly opposed by Ukraine’s civil activists and NGO
community, will remain in his post despite other changes in the cabinet,
Ukrainian President Zelensky told MPs with The People’s Servant faction during
their Mar. 3 meeting to discuss today’s vote for new ministers. When asked why
Avakov is remaining, after the president assured the public in August that his
reappointment is temporary, Zelensky said he is “one of the most effective
state officials.”

Avakov has been
Ukraine’s internal affairs minister since February 2014, having gained the post
after actively supporting the EuroMaidan protest. Previously, he was a key
political and business figure in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Since
becoming Ukraine’s police chief, Avakov has been accused of being involved in
numerous corruption scandals, failing to investigate high-profile crimes
(including the murder of Pavel Sheremet), as well as using police, paramilitary
groups and even alleged street thugs for political ends.

Zenon Zawada: Our view is –
Avakov is remaining as
internal affairs minister because he has formed a political alliance with
billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky. It’s this tight alliance that likely enabled
Zelensky to dismiss Andriy Bohdan, with the president assuring Kolomoisky that
he will retain political influence through Avakov (instead of Bohdan, who
served as Kolomoisky’s personal lawyer for five years).

Yet even with Bohdan’s departure, Zelensky seems to be compelled to play
his own role in defending Kolomoisky’s business interests nonetheless. The
final straw in his decision to dismiss PM Oleksiy Honcharuk was reportedly his
attempt to replace one of the top managers at electricity producer Centrenergo.
That official had been
endorsed by Kolomoisky, who is
recognized as controlling the company on a de facto basis. So Kolomoisky will
keep his status as Ukraine’s most preferred oligarch, even with today’s
election of a new cabinet.