The new face of police is to everyone’s liking. For now...

At the recent Cabinet meeting the new head of MIA Vitalii Zakharchenko was welcomed warmly with hugs and kisses. Apparently, different people associate different expectations with this person. Those, who patted him friendly on the shoulder, have one kind of hopes and Yurii Lutsenko, who gave advice to the new minister in a friendly manner from prison, has the hopes of a different kind.

The chief policeman himself started the week with long promised personnel replacements. Surprisingly for all, he brought back to office two former subordinates of Lutsenko. Zakharchenko appointed the head of the Main Directorate of Criminal Investigation Interior lieutenant-general Vasyl Paskal and changed the main HR manager to the “new-old” colonel Mykhailo Dyvaka.

MP Hennadii Moskal said that Zakharchenko should return to their posts many police managers of middle ranks, released by Anatolii Mohyliov due to their sympathy for the “orange” (but who are, in fact, according to the MP, apolitical professionals). This will make it possible to upgrade the fight against crime.

It is interesting that almost all former police generals both from ruling party and from opposition speak of Zakharchenko with respect, emphasizing his professionalism as a police officer.

“It will be a different person. Mohyliov was an obsessed control freak – I don’t have any other characteristics,” said Moskal. “It is hard to say now how Zakharchenko will act in the role of Minister. Anyway, it was necessary to change the face of the police, because lately there were constant slips and solid unprofessionalism. Nevertheless, I haven’t heard a bad word about him.”

Even Lutsenko from jail of Lukianivka Pre-Trial Detention Facility approved the appointment of a new minister. However, he said that Zakharchenko knows nearly nothing and that Lutsenko thinks he needs time to show himself. “I can suggest following: use the direct access to the president in order to actually provide an increase in salaries for personnel. If there will be money provided, you can initiate creation of National Police out of the most experienced employees. There should be a legal implementation of the right for internal security in case of bribe provocations for policemen. I think that this approach can improve MIA,” press service of People’s Self-Defence Party reported the words of the ex-minister.

“DARK HORSE”

Although, it’s been more than two weeks since MIA Major General Vitalii Zakharchenko was appointed as a chief policeman of the country, he still remains one of the least public officials in Ukraine. The official biography of the Donbas native is very stingy. Much of his career he worked in the Donetsk police station where he was promoted to the post of deputy head of the MIA. Since 2008 he worked in Poltava Tax Administration, there he was the first deputy chairman – chief of the Tax Police. Zakharchenko was engaged in work with large taxpayers. Sources call him nearly the main center of influence in the Tax Administration and author of many schemes implemented by the Administration.

Zakharchenko got into the top hundred most influential Ukrainians, according to the Korrespondent magazine, ranking the 55th place.

We should note that only Zakharchenko had an honor of being presented personally by the president. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov went to the Crimea to present Mohyliov there, and presented the new head of Tax Administration – Oleksandr Klymenko.

“Rotations of Mohyliov and Zakharchenko prove that the Party of Regions is experiencing shortage of government staff,” said director of the Center of Political Analysis ‘Penta’ Volodymyr Fesenko. “This is why the government of Azarov hasn’t had any general resignations. There are no substitutes for ministers. But the recent resignations and appointments showed how the problem with the shortage of staff can be solved. In fact, there was one key decision – Mohyliov’s transfer from the post of MIA’s head to the Crimea. Then personnel castling was set going: Zakharchenko was reappointed and Klymenko was promoted from deputy head to head of administration. I think that similar changes will occur in the future.”

NEAREST CIRCLE

However, there is another widespread version: only people, who advanced in their career solely thanks to the president and do not depend on any other groups of influence, are assigned to the positions of power. Zakharchenko and Klymenko have been already dubbed in the media “Yanukovych guys.” Like the Head of National Bank Serhii Arbuzov, they are distant from politics and advanced only thanks to the president.

According to the famous publicist Vitalii Portnykov, Zakharchenko’s appointment as a successor of Mohyliov is a real sensation because it is a signal to the elite. “By sending Mohyliov to the Crimea, Yanukovych sent a simple signal to his fellow countrymen – they should not worry about their positions. But, by appointing Zakharchenko, he showed that only people directly related to his family and the nearest circle will be assigned the key posts. These are the people he will promote and will protect, if necessary.”

Experts predict that soon we should expect replacement of many figures in authority, who are close to large groups of influence, by “Yanukovych guys.” The same will be with other positions related to security and large financial flows.

We should note that the next staff rotations among high rank officials may occur on December 20. This is the date Yanukovych planned another assessment of ministers’ activity efficiency. The Day before, on December 19, there will be the Ukraine-EU Summit held, where there will be a decision made on whether we will move towards Association and to the FTA with the EU. This decision will determine the fate of some senior government officials. Large-scale communication of Yanukovych with the mass media was announced to take place on December 21. Hopefully there the president will explain in detail personnel and other aspects of his policy.

BIOGRAPHY

Age: 48 years.

Family: married, has two daughters.

Born January 20, 1963 in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk oblast.

1981 graduated from Kostiantynivka Vocational College, 1986 – Riga Special Police School of MIA of the USSR, 1991 – Riga branch of the Minsk Graduate School of the MIA of the USSR, 1998 – Magistrate of Ukraine’s National Academy of Internal Affairs.

1981 worked at Kostiantynivka Metallurgical Plant named after Mikhail Frunze.

From 1981 till 1983 served in the Armed Forces of the USSR.

1984-2008 served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

1984 began serving in the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a police officer and a driver of non-department security at the Regional Internal Affairs Directorate of Zhovtneve District Executive Committee, Riga.

From 1986 till 1990 – worked as authorized operations officer of Department Against Misappropriation of Socialist Property at Ventspilsk City Regional Internal Affairs Directorate, Latvian SSR.

1990-1998 worked as authorized operations officer, Deputy Chief of Kostiantynivka Police Department at Donetsk Oblast

Internal Affairs Department.

Since 1998 Deputy Chief of Makeivka Department for Combating Organized Crime, MIA of Ukraine in Donetsk oblast.

1999-2001 Chairman of the Personnel Inspection in Human Resources Department, MIA of Ukraine in Donetsk oblast.

Since 2001 holds the post of Head of State Service for Fighting Economic Crime.

Since 2003 – First Deputy Chief of Internal Affairs Ministry in Donetsk oblast.

2005-2006 served as acting director of Mariupil Higher Vocational College of MIA of Ukraine.

In early 2007 Zakharchenko was transferred for further service to Ukraine’s Ministry of Interior on the position of Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Strategic Analysis and Forecasting.

From 2008 till 2009 Deputy Head of the State Tax Administration in Poltava oblast.

Worked in the Department for Combating Organized Crime in Donetsk oblast in the position of Deputy Head of Internal Affairs Department in Donetsk oblast.

2009-2010 Deputy Head – Head of State Tax Administration in Poltava oblast.

June-July 2010 First Deputy Head of Tax Police of Ukraine.

July-December 2010 First Deputy Head of State Tax Administration of Ukraine.

According to the decree No. 1239/2010 of December 25, 2010 Zakharchenko was appointed Head of the Ukraine’s State Tax Service.