Poroshenko Ally With No Legal Background Appointed As Top Ukraine Prosecutor

May 12, 2016

Ukraine’s parliament has approved a close ally of President Petro Poroshenko to become the country's new prosecutor-general.

Lawmakers voted by 264-to-37 to approve Yuriy Lutsenko’s candidacy on May 12, after removing the need for nominees to the chief prosecutor’s post to hold a law degree and reducing required legal experience.

Some lawmakers shouted “shame” as the bill passed, while others alleged procedural violations.

After the vote, Poroshenko signed a decree confirming Lutsenko’s appointment.

The 51-year-old Lutsenko is a former interior minister and the head of Poroshenko's parliamentary faction. His university degree is in engineering.

The post of prosecutor-general is seen by the West as crucial for Ukraine to tackle entrenched corruption.

In February, Poroshenko fired the previous prosecutor-general, Viktor Shokin, after being criticized for failing to indict corrupt officials. 

Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and Bloomberg