11/04/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Dekanoidze appointed Head of the National Police of Ukraine

Dekanoidze appointed Head of the National Police of Ukraine

11.04.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Dekanoidze appointed Head of the National Police of Ukraine.
• Most Europeans see the conflict in Donbas as a "civil war" provoked by Russia.
• Poroshenko blamed MPs for failing to adopt the laws necessary to obtain a visa-free regime with Europe.

Key Events in Ukraine

• The Verkhovna Rada adopted the law prepared by the Ministry of Social and Economic Development. It significantly facilitates export and import formalities, allowing Ukraine to improve its Doing Business ranking next year. The main problems faced by exporters remain the same: VAT refund and foreign exchange restrictions.
• Former Minister of Education of Georgia and Rector of Police Academy Dekanoidze was appointed Head of the National Police. Cabinet dismissed two deputies of Interior Minister Avakov who were "reassigned to another position."
• Former MP of Svoboda party faction Syrotyuk charged with organizing mass rioting outside the Verkhovna Rada building on August 31 was released and placed under house arrest.
• Court hearing will resume on November 5th to elect a preventive measure for the leader of UKROP party Korban.
• Electronic ankle monitor was removed from Efremov, former head of the Party of Regions faction in the Verkhovna Rada. He is accused of vote rigging when Yanukovych’s "dictator laws" were passed by the Rada.
• Head of the state fiscal service Nasirov announced that the number of tax inspections will be reduced by half and that the head of Kyiv Tax Office will be dismissed at the request of Prime Minister Yatsenyuk.
• Odessa customs banned groundless inspection of goods.
• Head of Transcarpathian Regional State Administration Moskal resigned. His resignation has not yet been accepted by President Poroshenko.
• The official rate of hryvnia has not changed: 23.08 ₴/$ (+0.06 UAH), 25.24 ₴/€ (-0.03 UAH), 3.61 ₴/10 ₽.

Ukraine at War

• Provocations of the militants continue in Donbas. According to the ATO headquarters, at least 12 attacks were recorded. The officials reported of five wounded soldiers. The army did not open fire in response. Intelligence reports warn of the possible escalation of the situation in the region. According to observers, rebels are relocating disguised heavy equipment closer to the front line. NSDC Secretary Turchynov said that in the event of further provocations the Ukrainian Army will stop withdrawing weapons.

Ukraine and the World

• According to a survey conducted by TNS in Europe, most Europeans believe that the conflict in Donbas was provoked by Russia, slightly over a half of the respondents called it a war, while most of Germans and Italians believe it to be a civil war.
• President of the European Council Tusk considers it immoral to talk about the lifting of sanctions against Russia for its aggression in Ukraine because of Russia's participation in the fight against the Islamic State. Russia does not abide by the Minsk Agreement, which means that the sanctions should continue.
• The number of Russian troops in Syria has grown to 4,000, tanks and air defenses weapons have been supplied to Syria. According to intelligence reports, the Russian contingent includes the mercenaries recruited in Donbas.
• Forbes magazine called Putin the most powerful person in the world for the third year in a row.
• NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said that NATO does not see a direct threat against its allies, but is ready for deterrence and defense in the case of Russian aggression.

The Trends

• MPs of Samopomich parliamentary faction discuss the possibility of leaving the ruling coalition due to political persecution of Poroshenko’s opponents.
• President blamed MPs for failing to adopts the laws necessary to obtain the visa-free regime with Europe. Experts and many MPs believe that under the pretext of this stated goal Poroshenko is trying to consolidate his personal power and to curtail citizen’s rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. The civil society has doubts that obtaining the visa-free regime is an absolute priority right now, in the absence of the reform of the judiciary and law enforcement system and the actual refusal of the authorities to fight corruption.
• As the second anniversary of the events on Maidan approaches, the lawyers of the "Heavenly Hundred" made a statements that the evidence submitted to the investigators is not used in the investigation and is processed in violation of procedural norms. Part of the evidence provided was destroyed by the law enforcement officers. This may result in the acquittal of suspects due to the lack of evidence.
• The report of the Council of Europe on the events in Odessa on May 2, 2014 states that the official investigation is inefficient and that no former sernior officials of the Odessa police were punished. It also reports that there were attempts to save people from the burning building, most fires sources were inside of the building, while the fire at the entrance to the building broke out as a result of the actions of both sides of the clash.