Yanukovych ally in line to head Supreme Court

Kommersant reported this morning that Leonid Fesenko is in line to be the next chairman of Ukraine’s Supreme Court. Petr Pilipchuk, the current head, will reach the age limit (65) on October 13, 2012 and be forced to resign. Fesenko was elected to parliament as part of the pro-presidential Party of Regions in 2006. He has most recently been in charge of Ukraine’s Higher Specialized Court for Civil and Criminal Cases.

Brad Wells: The Supreme Court has been one of the last top government institutions not clearly under the control of pro-presidential loyalists. Pilipchuk, appointed just late last year, due to his age, looked like a transition candidate from the beginning. Prior to him, the Supreme Court was headed by government critic Vasyl Onopenko. We believe the Fesenko’s appointment might clear the way for the government to open up the judicial system on paper, while at the same time keep it firmly under its control.