11/18/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The authorities have nothing to brag about in the investigation of crimes on the Maidan

The authorities have nothing to brag about in the investigation of crimes on the Maidan

11.18.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The authorities have nothing to brag about in the investigation of crimes on the Maidan.
• Former member of the Party of Regions Dobkin was hit in the face during the trial of former Justice Minister Lucash.
• Ukraine's rating rose above the default level.

Key Events in Ukraine

• Scandal in connection with the elections of the mayor of Kryvyi Rih spreads. The leadership of Batkivschyna and Radical Parties disbanded their city organizations for participating in the illegal session of the City Council. Poroshenko Bloc is demanding a recount at all voting stations where violations were registered. In Kiev, in front of the Central Election Commission, a rally was held against the election fraud in Kryvyi Rog.
• Prime Minister Yatsenyuk instructed to check by the end of the year the activities of 20 largest state-owned enterprises.
• The Investigation group of the National Police said that on February 20, 2014 the police had distributed more than 400 machine guns (and a large number of cartridges) among criminals , which had not yet been found. The General Prosecutor's Office demands to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure. Currently, the law does not allow to start the procedure of in absentia conviction without including the criminals to the international wanted list, but Interpol refuses to seek Yanukovych regime officials , referring to the political nature of the prosecution. The Prosecutor’s Office states that on January 16th, 2014 Yanukovych personally "forced" the Verkhovna Rada to vote for "dictatorial laws."
• The State Statistics Service reported on a slowdown in the fall in industrial production in Ukraine up to 5%, as compared to October 2014. Since the beginning of the year production fell by 15.4%.
• Energy Minister Demchishin stated that Ukraine accumulated enough coal and natural gas for the winter season, while the supplies of electricity from Russia are possible only in the case of force majeure.
• The World Bank analyses the models of reorganization of Naftogaz. Report on the possible outcome of the reform will be presented in late December.
• Fitch upgraded Ukraine's sovereign rating in foreign currency from RD (pre-default) to CCC (possibly default) level in connection with the re-issue of government Eurobonds and sovereign debt restructuring.
• Hryvnia exchange rate continues to decrease: 23,91 ₴ / $ (+0,14 UAH), 25,50 ₴ / € (+0,14 UAH), 3,69 ₴ / 10 ₽ (+0,06 UAH).

Ukraine at War

• Militants continue to fire on positions of the Ukrainian army and settlements. According to official data, during the previousday one soldier was wounded. According to reports from Stanitsa Luhanska, two Ukrainian military tripped a land mine, Novotroitske checkpoint was shot , local fightings and shelling in the surroundings of Donetsk do not stop. In Maryinka local resident tripped a land mine .
• Another "Putin's convoy" invaded Ukraine. Observers note that payments to pensioners, "public sector" and participants of military forces begin immediately after arrival of the next "convoy". Almost complete displacement of the Ukrainian hryvnia from the turnover and its replacement by the ruble mass is observed in the occupied territories.

Ukraine and the World

• Finance Minister of the Russian Federation Siluanov said that the restructuring of the "Yanukovich debt" in the amount of $ 3 billion can be carried out under the guarantees of the US, the EU or major Western bank in coordination with Russia.
• The Wall Street Journal writes that the officials of the EU and the US will not lift sanctions against Russia, which annexed the Crimea, in exchange for a joint struggle with the terrorist Islamic state. US Assistant Secretary Nuland also insists on maintaining the sanctions. The Pentagon said there were no plans for joint operations with Russia in Syria.
• The trial of Ukrainian deputy Savchenko held in the Rostov region, was declared closed. Thus, the press can not get information about the circumstances of her capture by Luhansk militants and transfer to the territory of Russia.
• The Russian government decided to introduce the food embargo against Ukraine from January 1, 2016 , simultaneously with the introduction of a free trade zone between Ukraine and the  EU.

The Trends

• According to experts, as a result of the local elections, President Poroshenko failed to create a "party of power" and to obtain the controlled majority in local councils and the posts of mayors of large cities, except for Kiev. Analysts say that the voters gave their assessment of the President's team attempts to use former members of the Party of Regions as allies, as well as the growth of the protest moods in society. At the same time, other parties, including Batkivschyna, Svovboda, Ukrop and Samoopomich are gaining more influence . Pro-Russian forces still have strong position in the  east of the country, where Poroshenko, like previous presidents, tried to maintain the influence through the transfer of power in the form of a "franchise", supporting local political projects. The use of administrative resources was not as massive as in the 2012 elections, but local elites demonstrated in many regions their independence from the decisions of the center. Thus, we can assume that decentralization promoted by Poroshenko, could cause actual loss of control in regions. Elections showed an increasing public demand for alternative ways of the country's development.
• According to political analysts and observers, after a year of immunity of Yatsenyuk’s government, ending in December, its structure will change significantly, but the Prime Minister will keep his post due to the existing agreements on the division of spheres of influence between him and the President. On the other hand, the local elections showed that the People’s Front and the Poroshenko Bloc noticeably lost the ratings and support of the satellite parties, so conducting of the Parliamentary elections in the spring is unlikely.
• Penetration into the economy of Ukraine of ruble mass which Russia imports in large volumes into the occupied territory of the Donbass, with uncontrolled emission of ruble, bears risks for the cash foreign exchange market, as the ruble is still one of the main means of payment during traveling to Russia, Belarus and other CIS countries .