Sergii Leshchenko, the investigative journalist and former member of parliament, has been hired by the Kyiv Post as a part-time staff writer and columnist.
Leshchenko lost his bid for re-election in the July 21 parliamentary race, where he was running in district No. 220 in Kyiv. He was previously a member of the bloc of ex-President Petro Poroshenko, with whom he had a political falling out. He was elected on the Poroshenko party list in October 2014.
“I think Leshchenko is eager to return to politics or government service, so the Kyiv Post wants to take advantage of his journalistic talents while we can,” Kyiv Post chief editor Brian Bonner. “He was one of the best investigative journalists in Ukraine; some would argue he was the best one. He has a wealth of insight and contacts. Those who agree with his politics will cheer the decision. Those who disagree can rest assured that the Kyiv Post is committed, as always, to truth and fairness on its news pages and balance on its opinion pages.”
The Kyiv Post has, moreover, published 42 columns written by Leshchenko over the years, so he is not unfamiliar to the newspaper’s readers. Additionally, he’s served as a source in numerous news accounts until coming to work at the newspaper in October.
Leshchenko has spent most of his journalistic career at leading news website Ukrainska Pravda starting in 2000, where he became deputy chief editor in 2003 before leaving when he was elected to parliament 11 years later.
In explaining why he is joining the Kyiv Post in a part-time role, Leshchenko cited the ongoing impeachment hearings in the United States involving President Donald J. Trump. Whether the American president abused his powers in making demands on Ukrainian leaders is central to the U.S. House investigation.
“We need to use this current high level of interest in Ukraine from abroad to improve global understanding of the nation,” Leshchenko. “It’s a good opportunity to improve what the world knows about Ukraine and counter stereotypes. The Kyiv Post is the one and only source to do this — it’s in English and has a global audience that trusts its journalism.”
Leshchenko is a Kyiv native and married to DJ Anastasiya Topolska. He graduated from the Institute of Journalism at Taras Shevchenko National University and has given lectures to journalism students at Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv and on anti-corruption issues to students of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
