Martynenko former aide appointed to prosecutor general post

A lawyer with close ties to Mykola Martynenko, a natural gas and nuclear fuel trader with alleged ties to corruption, was appointed deputy head of a department in the Prosecutor General’s Office. Mykhaylo Lyedovskykh was appointed deputy head of the department of reviewing the upholding of laws in criminal cases and coordinating law enforcement activity, the prosecutor general’s website reported on Sept. 28. Lyedovskykh served as an aide to Martynenko in two parliamentary convocations. His sister Olena leads Martynenko’s charity fund. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is investigating several criminal cases opened against Martynenko that include alleged bribery of a Czech nuclear equipment firm.

Zenon Zawada: Regardless of whether Martynenko is prosecuted for alleged crimes or not, this appointment is a sign that key officials are still being selected based on political ties rather than merit or independent activity. Lyedovskykh is new to the prosecutor general’s office, having led a law firm beforehand.

Meanwhile, Martynenko’s scandal – in which Swiss and Czech law enforcement officials are involved – caused much damage to the reputation of former Prime Minister Yatsenyuk (a close associate) and should have made him an untouchable in Ukrainian politics. This is evidence that the tight-knit clique of oligarchs and their political executives in government remains firmly in place.