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The decision to introduce a competition for the office of prosecutor general should be made cautiously, taking the long-term perspective into account. This was stated by former Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna in an exclusive interview with Hlavkom.
She said the current political configuration of parliament could change after the next elections, and then the mechanism for appointing the prosecutor general will look different.
“For example, a competition for the office of prosecutor general. Perhaps this decision is ripe now, but it’s not certain it will be relevant in the next political cycle. Right now there is one large faction in our parliament that formed the majority. In the next convocation that will no longer be the case — there will be a coalition, and the question of appointing the prosecutor general by parliament will look completely different. Therefore, decisions now need to be made carefully, with an understanding of the long-term perspective,” Stefanishyna emphasized.
She also commented on a statement by the current Vice Prime Minister for European Integration, Vsevolod Chentsov, that a competition for the prosecutor general’s office is not part of Ukraine’s EU integration commitments.
Stefanishyna noted that even if such a requirement is not in the negotiation roadmap, the authorities must weigh the position of civil society. If a competition would increase trust in Ukraine, it should be introduced regardless of the existence of a corresponding commitment. At the same time, she called such a decision situational.
Separately, the former official stressed that Ukraine must form its own vision of reforms, rather than reducing the rule of law solely to meeting the demands of international partners.
“Until the state proposes its own vision, we will constantly be applying bandages to treat a gunshot wound. Therefore, decisions must be made, but at the same time one must understand that the concept of the rule of law is not equal to some amount of billions received in the budget,” she concluded.
Recall that on 17 September President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky placed Anton Kovalsky in the position of acting prosecutor general. Over the years Kovalsky has held various positions — from senior investigator and prosecutor to leadership roles in the Vinnytsia region prosecutor’s office.
As Hlavkom reported, the influential Chernivtsi businessman Illia Pavlyuk may have been involved in this personnel decision.
Note that Anton Kovalsky is originally from Vinnytsia. From 27 years old (in 2011) he began working in the Vinnytsia prosecutor’s offices. Over ten years he advanced from the position of senior investigator to deputy head of the Vinnytsia regional prosecutor’s office. Since November 2021 he has led the Chernivtsi regional prosecutor’s office.
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