Ukraine’s fugitive former Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko was appointed a consultant for the Russian parliament's committee on property. His job is to help protect Russian investment abroad, Valeriy Seleznev, first deputy chairman of the committee, told the Kyiv Post on March 26.
Zakharchenko has a stained reputation at home. He is
wanted by the prosecutor’s office for crimes against humanity for his role in attacks
on peaceful protests in Ukraine during the revolution a year ago. Zakharchenko
was a member of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s inner circle, referred to as
“the Family,” and is suspected to be one of the hawks who organized deadly
police attacks on EuroMaidan.
He fled the country more than a year ago, along with
his former patron, and has received a Russian passport, according to local
media.
But Seleznev stressed that Zakharchenko will not be a
civil servant, and will be free to help the Duma “when he has time.” His work
will be pro bono, according to Seleznev.
“Zakharchenko presents himself as an expert in the
field of foreign real estate,” said Seleznev. “Moreover, sometimes
there is a need to properly organize the processes of returning foreign real
estate back to the Russian Federation, so we’ll appreciate Zakharchenko’s
work.”
Sergei Gavrilov, head of the committee, was quoted by
Russian Izvestiya newspaper as saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin in
his address stressed the need to strengthen the legal protection of Russian
investments and property abroad.
“Vitaliy Zakharchenko will work on a number of
relevant legislative initiatives as a part of the expert council of the
committee,” Gavrilov said to Izvestiya.
Ukraine has asked Interpol to put Zakharchenko on the
international wanted list for his crimes in Ukraine. Interior Minister Arsen
Avakov said last month that Ukraine is still working to persuade Interpol that
there is no political element in his prosecution. Zakharchenko has also been
under European Union sanctions since March 2014. The EU has frozen his assets.
Seleznev also said that Zakharchenko will solve “some
operational problems in the sphere of foreign property” for Russian investors
in his new capacity.
In December 2014, Zakharchenko presented a charitable
foundation that started its work in the city of Sevastopol in Russia-occupied
Crimea.
The organization called South-East aims to help the
members of disbanded Berkut riot police unit and the employees of the Interior
Ministry of Ukraine and the victims of what Zakharchenko calls “an armed coup
in Kyiv.”
Zakharchenko has also worked as an adviser to Russian
state-company Rostec Corporation, that promotes development, production and
export of hi-tech industrial products for civil and defense sectors.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncahrova can be reached at [email protected]
