Zelensky appoints loyal MP to replace Truba

Ukrainian President
Zelensky signed on Dec. 27 a decree dismissing Roman Truba as director of the
State Bureau of Investigations and appointing as acting director Iryna
Venediktova, a People’s Servant MP who serves as head of the legal policy
parliamentary committee.

Zenon Zawada: A
lifelong academic with some arbitration experience, Venediktova has been on the
Zelensky team from the very beginning of his presidential campaign. It’s not
clear whether she will be the nominee for the permanent position, but it’s
rather likely. Similar to Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, Venediktova is a
low-key persona who will not only not overshadow the president, but fulfill
orders dutifully. With so much authority being concentrated in Zelensky’s
hands, he will have to show more consistent results in 2020 in key spheres:
resolving the war in Donbas, establishing rule of law and equality under the
law, prosecuting criminal cases, fighting corruption on a widescale basis and
improving investment conditions.