Zelensky stands behind choice of Yanukovych-era police official

Ukrainian President Zelensky appointed on Aug. 5 Oleh
Tatarov as the President’s Office deputy head responsible for law enforcement.
The appointment caused an immediate scandal since Tatarov served in the
Internal Affairs Ministry under the Yanukovych administration, having overseen
the criminal cases opened against numerous EuroMaidan activists. He was among
the first removed from office in 2014 upon approval of the lustration law. In
2016, Tatarov served as a lawyer for MP Vadim Novinsky, a billionaire who is
among the leading advocates for reuniting with Russia. Tatarov also served as
the lawyer for Olesia Kuznetsova, the wife of a man who attacked Serhiy
Sternenko, a nationalist activist in Odesa. In the May 2018 incident, Sternenko
killed Ivan Kuznetsov in what he alleged was self defense.

Zelensky brushed off the criticism against Tatarov in
comments to reporters on Aug. 7. “We all lived in the times of Yanukovych. Some
of the people fled together with Yanukovych. But in theory, many normal people
remained, who didn’t betray Ukraine. It seems to me that it’s not fair to
consider as “the old government” all those who led one or another part of
government during the times of Yanukovych. For me, all those in charge under
Mr. Poroshenko are also “the old government” already. And there were experienced
people there, and in the (Yanukovych) years were experienced people. The main
thing is for a person to be honest,” he said

Zenon Zawada: Zelensky is
playing both the pro-Western and Russian-oriented sides of his electorate
against each other, pursuing policies and personnel appointments in favor of
both directions. This political approach seems to satisfy a segment of the
public that perceives this as balance and that this prevents one side from
dominating the agenda. But the end result is the disruption of Ukraine’s
Euro-Atlantic integration, which needs a firm commitment.

It’s clear that pro-Russian forces stand behind the
selections of Tatarov, as well as Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova and some
of her deputies. These forces are not interested in rule of law and the fight
against corruption. And in appeasing them, Zelensky is merely undermining not
only Ukraine’s future, but also his own presidency.