With the kind permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, InfoUkes Inc. has been given rights to electronically re-print these articles on our web site. Visit the RFE/RL Ukrainian Service page for more information. Also visit the RFE/RL home page for news stories on other Eastern European and FSU countries.

Return to Main RFE News Page
InfoUkes Home Page

UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT REJECTS DISMISSAL OF SECURITY SERVICE CHIEF. The Verkhovna Rada on December 13 failed to approve the dismissal of Ihor Drizhchanyy from the post of chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Interfax-Ukraine reported. The motion was supported by 184 deputies, with at least 226 votes necessary for its approval. Raisa Bohatyryova, head of the parliamentary caucus of the ruling Party of Regions, denied the allegation from a journalist that the vote on Drizhchanyy was the ruling coalition's "revenge" on President Viktor Yushchenko for his recent veto on the 2007 budget bill (see "RFE/RL Newsline," December 12 and 13, 2006). President Yushchenko dismissed Drizhchanyy last month and earlier this month appointed him deputy secretary of the National Defense and Security Council. Under the Ukrainian Constitution, the nomination and discharge of the SBU chief by the president must be approved by parliament. JM