In the middle of the Ukraine war, President Zelenskyj takes action and suspends the head of the secret service. Parliament approves the dismissal.
Update from Tuesday, July 19, 12:00 p.m.: After his suspension by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, the parliament has now dismissed Ivan Bakanov as head of the secret service. Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated, according to a report by the news portal Kyiv Independentthat 265 parliamentarians approved Zelenskyj’s motion. Selenskyj had accused Bakanov of “treason” (see first report).
Zelenskyy’s school friend: Ukrainian intelligence chief commits “treason”
First report from Monday, July 18, 10:30 a.m.: Kyiv – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a man of dramatic words. He proved that, among other things, when he announced the suspension of two key figures in the Ukraine-War by presidential decree announced. Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktov and head of the secret service Ivan Bakanov had committed “betrayal” of the Ukrainian security apparatus. More than 60 employees of the authorities are in the service of Russia, Zelenskyj explained in a video speech.
The latter person in particular is a prominent face: Bakanov has headed the domestic secret service SBU since 2019. The 47-year-old was previously considered a close confidante of Selenskyj. They have known each other since childhood, grew up in the same house and went to school together in the city of Kryvyi Rih.
Selenskyj dismisses school friend Bakanov as head of the secret service
Even in Selenskyj’s time as a comedian, including as part of the comedy group “Kwartal 95”, Bakanov was considered a loyal companion. Among other things, he led the aforementioned group and was involved in the associated television production company. The collaboration culminated in Zelenskyy’s triumph in the 2019 presidential campaign shortly before Bakanov’s appointment as intelligence chief. Together they organized the campaign for it.
But the nerves of the long-standing friendship have been on edge for quite some time. Before Selenskyj Bakanov recalled, the two hardly spoke anymore. Several weeks ago, the Ukrainian President gave a public indication of the state of cooperation. Bakanov must be replaced “by a more suitable person,” the US magazine learned political from official circles around the President. In doing so, Selenskyj revised his position, which he still represented in the course of the appointment of his old school friend as head of the secret service. At that time he stood protectively in front of Bakanov. The Ukrainian opposition, for example, criticized the curriculum vitae of the 47-year-old. He is not suitable as head of the domestic secret service SBU.
Ukrainian secret service: Bakanov’s successor clarified
Zelenskyy’s decree from the weekend marks a general reversal in the personnel policy of Ukrainian authorities. Since of Russia At the start of the invasion at the end of February, the President had made almost no changes at the management level.
Meanwhile, it is now clear who will succeed Ivan Bakanov as head of the SBU secret service: According to a presidential decree, Vasyl Malyuk is to head the SBU secret service for the time being. The 39-year-old had been Bakanov’s first deputy since March. Maljuk received his legal education at the Intelligence Academy and subsequently worked in the agency’s anti-corruption structures. (do)
#Parliament #dismisses #Zelenskyjs #school #friend #secret #service