State structures become increasingly restless as elections approach
Militia and National Guard manpower reductions, rumors about top-level changes at the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine). What’s going on? Below The Day’s journalist Tetiana Korobova interviews People’s Deputy Yuri Karmazin.
T.K.: Suppose we start with the rumors. One has it that SBU chief Volodymyr Radchenko will be retired. The President is also said to be angry with the service. The SBU Board has on several occasions let it slip to the press that the service is staying out of politics. But then there were the Yalta events in the Crimea where the militia with shields and clubs (even though unused) placed the Presidential appointee in the City Hall. Don’t you think that the SBU’s recent declaration of noninterference in the politics sounds like a warning, like an alibi worked ont in advance?
Yu.K.: Let me tell you this. We visited the Crimea not so long ago. We stayed there less than three days and many people complained that the militia was persecuting them for political reasons. I am not prepared to state today that all these complaints are based on hard facts. I saw with my own eyes how five men brought one girl in for questioning as a witness. Unbelievable! A person can be picked up for questioning only under a warrant signed by the investigating officer, and only if this person refuses to come himself. Now about SBU. They had every reason to say that they stayed out of politics, because the law prohibits them from becoming politically involved one way or the other. Incidentally, the same applies to the militia. But the fact that they consider such statements necessary deserves separate notice.
Now there is something very strange going on at the militia. The Office of the President, Cabinet, Committee to Combat Organized Crime and Corruption, Vasyl Durdynets, and yours truly have been receiving calls and letters asking about Interior Ministry manpower reductions. What bothers people is that experienced pros get laid off while bowing and scraping nincompoops are left and promoted. Mostly they point an accusing finger at the Traffic Control Directorate. In case you're interested, its staff numbers 32,000 in Ukraine. Compared to about 6,000 working at the public prosecutor's offices and about as many judges at all levels. In a law- governed state this sounds crazy. I don't think that the Interior Minister will head the SBU. The President will be better off keeping faithful Yuri Kravchenko in his post. The more so that transferring him to SBU would be demotion. Why? Because he is currently in command over some 600,000 officers, men, and civilian employees. Almost the strength of two armies. Including
32,000 at Traffic Control and mind you, these are the official statistics. In contrast, SBU has grown smaller over the past several years, in terms of influence and means of exerting this influence.
The President, Prime Minister, and the People's Democratic Party need manpower, a force strong enough to uphold the party's course. They have it. The militia. Hence, whoever heads this force must be absolutely loyal, the key principle being "the law is the President."
T.K.: But that's how parliament wanted it. Why complain now?
Yu.K.: Right. I think parliament must have been crazy when it deleted the constitutional clause about the appointment of heads of structures with coercive authority. These structures are always under parliamentary control, in all civilized democratic countries. In the US, special service officers get promotions if approved by Congress. In Ukraine, they report to the executive only, and the executive give orders that suit their interests. Now we hear rumors that some of Radchenko's deputies are planning to replace him and that some of them, being from Dnipropetrovsk, stand a real chance. Well, Dnipropetrovsk people are in demand, just as they were under Pavlo Lazarenko. I might as well point out that, despite my critical attitude to ex-President Kravchuk, he never allowed such open clannishness. There was a degree of common sense instead.
T.K.: Would you agree that this clan structure is not as solid as it used to be, that it's showing cracks, showing new patterns after every shakeup?
Yu.K.: I agree and I know that economic interests are uppermost in their minds now. I've been meeting with a number of Western diplomats (I won't say who, of course). And you know what? They were terrified by the President's entourage. They named names and told me about Presidential aides and advisers doing "business" using their office. I know for a fact that the President received an official inquiry from high US quarters, concerning the property of one of his workers now in America. The document contains what is best described as spicy bits of scandal. That's how a state can lose face.
The general public is being actively distracted by a campaign against parliamentary immunity, without a word being spoken about the absolute impunity of all those in the Presidential Administration. Here every car-driving clerk has a special card issued by the Traffic Control Directorate of Ukraine which says that the car is not to be stopped or searched. There is a list of these cards, specifying numbers and dates of issue. Such cards have been issued for as long as the clan has existed. Very official-looking and beautifully designed, these cards nullify the law on traffic and the constitutional provision about the equality of citizens before the law.
Of course, mentioning this in the media would cause an uproar, so no mention is made. Instead, a lot is being said and written about the deputies. This topic is sure to make headlines, anywhere, anytime. What's more, the President encourages this verbal onslaught, particularly on the UT-1 national television channel. Under the circumstances, one can't but assume that the fuss with nominating and renominating Lytvak for Prosecutor General (currently acting one, with curbed authority, and constantly voted down by Parliament) is just a game playing into the hands of the President and his team, for they all know that he will not be confirmed. This and the overall departmental chaos are those muddy waters in which fishing proves most effective for the interested parties.
T.K.: Am I right in assuming that the President will leave the SBU head in office for fear that the man will switch sides if fired, contributing his knowledge and professional skill to the opposition?
Yu.K.: Actually, the President should have learned his lesson after firing Lazarenko: when conducting such policy and practicing such reforms, it's best to reduce the number of enemies to a minimum. Although I'm not sure he understands this. By appointing Mr. Kushnariov Head of the Presidential Administration, Mr. Kuchma increased that number several times, for this man behaves in his post like the proverbial bull in a china closet. His every political gesture creates a scandal, there are many hurt feelings, and everybody blames the President. Of course, Kushnariov cuts a weaker figure than did Dmytro Tabachnyk. The latter was an ace of intrigue, operating on a royal scope, upholding the President's image... Getting back to Radchenko, I think the President has enough trouble with Lazarenko in opposition. Or take another ex-Premier, Yevhen Marchuk. He was also retired under very strange circumstances, considering that the man was not affiliated to any clans and did nothing wrong otherwise.
In short, my opinion is that the President has no reasons to replace Radchenko and the man will stay. Horbulin (head of the National Security and Defense Council) is a different story. He could become a sacrificial lamb on the Russian altar, as was the case with Vasyl Durdynets. I worked with him on the Crimean issues and I can state here and now that he did much to protect the national interest. His dismissal makes me think of Horbulin as next in the line, because he is also primarily concerned with what is good for the state. I think that his destiny has been decided and that before long we will see him at the head of a minor government service or as an ambassador in a remote country (a good old Soviet practice).
Logic? You won't find any and don't bother looking for it. Obviously, the President is concerned not with the national interests, but with staying in office come what may, which means that anyone could become dispensable.






