Rada dismisses Prosecutor General Kostin: who will replace him
29 October 2024 23:18
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has dismissed Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin from his post. This was announced by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Before the vote Andriy Kostin came to report on his work – some deputies applauded him, and some said “shame”.
255 people’s deputies voted in favor of the decision to dismiss Kostin.
Zheleznyak noted that during a speech from the rostrum of Parliament said everything he thinks about the Prosecutor General:
“How the pressure on business grew during his cadence, how he defended the increase in salaries and zero reaction to law enforcers’ scofflaws, how he completely gave the management of the prosecutor’s office to Bankova.”
According to the MP, this Prosecutor General should have been fired two years ago.
“Waiting for where he will be sent next. Here was a proposal to appoint a representative of Ukraine in the World health organization,” – added Zheleznyak.
Earlier, Kostin’s resignation was supported in the law enforcement committee of the Verkhovna Rada.
It should be noted that on October 28, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky registered in the Verkhovna Rada a draft resolution on granting consent to the dismissal of Andriy Kostin from the post of Prosecutor General.
A replacement for Kostin has not been appointed yet.
Reason for Kostin’s dismissal
We would like to point out that Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin resigned on October 22 after a high-profile scandal with the MSEC and fake disabilities of prosecutors in the regions.
It is known that Kostin announced this decision after a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council with the participation of the president, where they discussed the obviously immoral situation with fake disabilities of civil servants.
Who will replace Kostin
After Andriy Kostin’s resignation, the post of Prosecutor General of Ukraine became one of the most debated positions in political circles. According to Kommersant Ukrainian 
, the most likely candidate for the post of head of the Prosecutor-General’s Office is Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kiev regional state administration. His candidacy for the post was agreed upon by the Bankova back in May of this year.
Kravchenko is called the favorite among all other likely contenders to head the UCP, of which there are three in total.
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At the same time, for the chair of the head of the Office of the Prosecutor General are also considered the candidacy of two more contenders.
We are talking about the head of the Odessa regional state Administration Oleg Kiper and the Deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Irina Mudra.
According to media reports, Kostin, who resigned on October 22, may be replaced by his first deputy Oleksiy Khomenko.
What is known about Andriy Kostin
At one time Kostin graduated from the I.I. Mechnikov Odessa State University with a degree in law. Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Association of Lawyers “Odessa Regional Bar Association”. Co-founder and board member of the Odessa Diplomatic Club. Lawyer. Co-founder and Director of the Lawyers’ Company “Pravo”.
Since 2000 – member of the International Bar Association (IBA). Served as Deputy Chairman of the Subcommittee on Land Transportation of the IBA Maritime and Transport Law Committee.
In 2010-2015, he was a deputy of the Odessa City Council for constituency #23 from the Front Zmin party.
In 2012, he was elected as a member of the Council of Advocates of the Odessa Region, and subsequently – Deputy Chairman of the Council.
In 2013-2016, he was the Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the National Bar Association of Ukraine.
In 2019, he was elected as a people’s deputy of the 9th convocation from the party “Servant of the People” number 108 in the list as a non-partisan. Member of the faction of the same name. Since November 10, 2019 – a member of the party. Until January 14, 2020 – Deputy Chairman of the Legal Policy Committee, after that – Chairman of the Committee.
In 2021, participated in the competition for the post of head of the SAP, but did not pass the interview. on July 27, 2022, the Rada supported the appointment of Andriy Kostin as Prosecutor General of Ukraine. The decision was supported by 299 people’s deputies.
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What scandals are associated with the name of Andrei Kostin
According to the Open Register of national public figures of Ukraine, Kostin’s wife works as an assistant-consultant to his colleague in the party, Parliament and committee Dyrdin, and Dyrdin’s wife works as an assistant-consultant to Kostin. A similar “exchange” exists between the candidate and MP Zadorozhny: Kostin’s daughter works as an assistant-consultant to the latter, and probably Zadorozhny’s son works as an assistant-consultant to Kostin. These are possible cases of nepotism (use of official powers in the interests of close persons).
According to the Schemes project, Dyrdin’s wife, who is Kostin’s assistant, may also be involved in money laundering in the framework of the project of the times of former President Viktor Yanukovych to hold the Winter Olympics in Ukraine.
In 2019-2020, Andrey Kostin did not declare any residence in Kiev, although, according to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, he received budgetary compensation for renting housing or hiring a hotel room in the amount of about 20 thousand UAH per month. The place of residence of the candidate’s daughter, who since 2019 works in Kiev as an assistant-consultant of another people’s Deputy, a colleague in the faction “Servant of the people” Andriy Zadorozhny, is also not declared.
As chairman of the Legal Policy Committee, Andriy Kostin was responsible in Parliament for judicial reform. However, it was during Kostin’s leadership of the committee that proper judicial reform was blocked and necessary legislative changes and proposals were distorted. In particular, the process of re-launching the VKKS was halted, because of which Ukraine is already short of about 2,000 judges. Instead of restarting the Supreme Court, its strengthening has begun. And the Parliament continues to appoint judges of the Constitutional Court without introducing a transparent competition.
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