Zelensky enhances authority of Bohdan, ignoring opposition

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree
on Aug. 13 appointing the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Bohdan, as
head of the commission on state awards and heraldry. The move comes after
Zelensky has repeatedly dismissed demands from critics that he fire Bohdan
because they argue his appointment violates the law on lustration that forbids
Yanukovych-era officials from serving in high-ranking posts. Zelensky has
acknowledged that among his closest political advisers is Bohdan, who served as
a personal lawyer to billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky, the main sponsor of his
presidential campaign.

The U.S. government has not made any demands regarding
the appointment or dismissal of Bohdan or any other Zelensky administration
official, the acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, Jr. said in an
interview with the pravda.com.ua news site published on Aug. 15. He was
responding to rumors that Bohdan’s appointment is a possible hindrance to
arranging a meeting between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. “He has
the full right to assemble his team, select those who will advise him, and any
decision in this realm is not our business,” Taylor Jr. said. He added,
“Regarding the personnel in Zelensky’s team, we won’t say either ‘yes’ or ‘no’
on principle.”

Zenon Zawada: We expect Andriy Bohdan to remain as head of the President’s Office
(also referred to as “chief of staff”) for as long as Zelensky is president.
There is no one Zelensky trusts as much who has the political skills and
contacts that Bohdan does.