Saakashvili is tipped to become Ukraine’s Prosecutor General instead of Shokin

Members of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine have launched a signature campaign for resignation of Prosecutor General Victor Shokin, deputies representing Petro Poroshenko Bloc Sergey Leshchenko and Mustafa Nayyem posted in their social media accounts today, on November 2.

A few minutes later, Taras Berezovets, a prominent Ukrainian political analyst, wrote about possibility of Shokin’s resignation. He hinted that Odessa Governor Mikheil Saakashvili may come to replace Shokin. “I’m guessing the decision to dismiss Shokin has been adopted already. His post will not remain vacant for long. Saakashvili as a fighter against corruption will be useful here. Saturday, he delivered his program speech on 1plus1.ua,” Berezovets said.

Sergey Rudenko, a political analyst and journalist, agrees with these views. “It seems that Poroshenko is ‘selling out’ Shokin. The decision has been adopted already. Nayyem and Leshchenko have already joined the signature campaign for the prosecutor general’s resignation. We are waiting for the decision of the entire faction of Petro Poroshenko Bloc. The Moor has done his duty, let him go,” Rudenko wrote.

As of 9:40am on Monday, November 2, 120 deputies have already signed the relevant draft enactment of the parliament, Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper writes.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry accused Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin of undermining the efforts to introduce visa-free communication with the EU. In particular, the ministry said Viktor Shokin was required to replace members of the commission to elect an anti-corruption prosecutor from Prosecutor General’s Office in Ukraine with the persons who are neither politicians nor civil servants until October 23. This must have been done not to impede implementation of the Action Plan for Visa Liberation with EU.  In late October, the Foreign Ministry presented the document confirming the conflict with Shokin.

Shokin denies everything. Meantime, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Jan Tombiński demands replacing Shokin’s four prosecutors with four odious members of the commission to select anti-corruption prosecutors appointed by Prosecutor General Shokin.