Key Yanukovych official released from surveillance

The Procurator General of Ukraine confirmed on Nov. 4 that the term of the surveillance of Oleksandr Yefremov expired on Nov. 1, reported the pravda.com.ua news site. His electronic bracelet was removed on Nov. 3 and a harsher surveillance or detention measure can be applied should he miss a future court date, the report said. Yefremov is charged with inciting ethnic animosity but is suspected of various crimes under the Yanukovych administration and financing the Russian-backed terrorists, for which he has not been charged. He served as head of the Party of Regions parliamentary faction under Yanukovych.

Zenon Zawada: Yefremov is among the few top officials of the Yanukovych administration to have been arrested. Yet his charges are petty compared to his suspected crimes and he hasn’t even faced trial yet. His release from detention comes as the Poroshenko administration faces criticism for targeting the Kolomoisky entourage for arrest while the Yanukovych entourage remains free. That Yefremov’s surveillance wasn’t immediately extended either reflects incompetence on the government’s part or behind-the-scenes deals.