The Ukrainian president dismissed the country's chief prosecutor

Thursday, August 6, 2020

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The Ukrainian president dismissed the country's chief prosecutor, Svyatoslav Piskun, Friday, a presidential spokesman said. Ukraine's new Justice Minister, Serhiy Holovatiy, criticized Piskun for the lack of progress in the investigation into the kidnapping and murder of investigative journalist Heorhiy Gongadze in 2000. Holovatiy, who had served as a lawyer for the journalist's mother, said the chief prosecutor had made too many mistakes. He said a new prosecutor would be able to solve the case. Piskun said Thursday he would appeal a dismissal. "You cannot dismiss a person, even a street cleaner, without a proper legal wording," he said. Piskun cited the law On the Prosecutor's Office, which says the chief prosecutor can only be dismissed in a no-confidence vote by parliament, if his five-year term expires, for health reasons, for abuse of office, after being convicted, after changing citizenship, or after filing an application to resign. Piskun worked for the State Tax Administration before being appointed prosecutor general. In October 2003, he was dismissed but reinstated in December 2004 according to a court ruling.

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