Ukraine prosecutor general denies U.S. travel to deputy prosecutor

Prosecutor General of Ukraine Viktor Shokin denied one of his deputies, Vitaliy Kasko, the opportunity to visit the U.S. in January as part of a senior level Ukrainian delegation, MP Svitlana Zalishchuk reported on her Facebook page on Jan. 11. She posted a letter from an unidentified official at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine to Shokin that expressed disappointment with his decision, which she said was related to his investigation of corrupt prosecutors.

“You have repeatedly requested U.S. assistance in international cooperation, but now, when we make this unique opportunity available to your experts, and to Mr. Kasko in particular, you deny Mr. Kasko the chance to attend,” said the letter, which was written in December, asking Shokin to reconsider. “These meetings will also give the participants the opportunity to discuss with their senior level U.S. counterparts both policy and practical issues surrounding anti-corruption reform. By withholding permission for Mr. Kasko to join the delegation, you may hinder the advancement of reform efforts.”

It was the fifth restriction on international travel for Kasko, who is responsible for international cooperation, asset forfeiture and asset recovery within the prosecutor general’s office, Zalishchuk wrote. “He was also denied invitations to the anti-corruption organizations of the Council of Europe and the OECD,” she said.

Zenon Zawada: The new year is under way yet with Kasko’s travel denial, Ukrainian President Poroshenko has shown that he has no intention of heeding to Western concerns and recommendations on fighting corruption. Kasko has more trust among Western officials than his superiors, even Shokin himself, which is at the source of this nasty conflict that has dragged on for at least six months. Shokin would probably like to dismiss him, but can’t because of Kasko’s support from the West.

It’s this conflict in the prosecutor’s office that’s among the key factors that have caused the Western leadership to lose confidence in Poroshenko. While the U.S. will continue to pressure the Ukrainian president for reforms and anti-corruption efforts, it will also be extending support to the “Movement to Clean Up Ukraine,” with Mikheil Saakashvili as among its leaders, as a civic movement for reforms that’s desperately needed in Ukraine is to withstand the Russian aggression.