Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has no intention of dismissing Arsen Avakov, the scandalous Minister of Internal Affairs, he said on June 11 at a press conference marking his first 100 days in office.
“We need to manage the crises that we have today — a number of crises. Avakov demonstrates good experience, good qualities in crisis management,” Shmyhal said, answering the Kyiv Post’s question on whether he will fire Avakov.
Avakov, who has remained in power since 2014 and become Ukraine’s longest-serving top official, has recently faced exceptionally fierce criticism.
Critics accused him of failing to rein in police abuses when news broke that officers had raped and tortured a woman in Kaharlyk, a town near Kyiv. Around the same time, in late May, over 100 men engaged in a brazen mass gunfight in Brovary, another city in Kyiv Oblast, which raised even more questions about Avakov and his effectiveness fighting lawlessness in the police force. He denies all accusations of misconduct.
Avakov is used to facing demands to resign. But despite serious accusations of sabotaging reforms and corruption in the past, he has managed to retain his post.
On June 5, while Avakov was reporting to parliament about critical police investigations, hundreds of people protested in front of the Verkhovna Rada building demanding his resignation.
That same day, a group of lawmakers gathered signatures and filed a draft resolution on Avakov’s dismissal to parliament. It has not yet reached the committee.
There are three possible ways of removing Avakov from office: if he resigns voluntarily, if the prime minister fires him or if the parliament votes to remove him.
But Avakov has Prime Shmyhal’s support and is also backed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has recently called him “one of the most effective state officials.”
As a result, the only possible way Avakov could be removed from the office would be through parliament. That would require the draft resolution to pass the committee, be put to a vote by the speaker and then to gather the necessary 226 votes to be passed.
