The Lazarenko brothers, from left to right: Pavel, Ivan, Nikolay
Photo: Sergei Isaev
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Brother of Convicted Former PM Goes into Regional Power
The yesterday’s election of the Regional Council chiefs in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, sprang a real surprise. Ivan Lazarenko, the brother of convicted in San Francisco former PM of Ukraine Pavel Lazarenko was elected the first deputy chairman of the body on the strong support of the Regions Party led by Prime Minister of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich.
The Wednesday election of Dnepropetrovsk Regional Council chairman lacked the spirit of drama. The office smoothly went to Yury Vilkol from the Regions Party, though the initial candidate of the party was Mikhail Razgonyaev. Razgonyaev will become the deputy of Ukrainian parliament, the Supreme Rada, as ten deputies from the Regions Party have been granted the permanent employment at executive bodies.
But the election of the deputy chairman was more thrilling and ended by a brawl of Vilkul and Nikolay Shvets (Our Ukraine), the acting chairman of Dnepropetrovsk Regional Council. Having briefly talked with spokesmen of the parliament’s coalition of majority and Supreme Rada’s deputy Igor Shkirey, Vilkul announced the secret ballot would have only one name – Ivan Lazarenko. Shvets said in return the decision contradicted the laws of Ukraine and left the hall. But his demarche failed to stop the brother of disgraced PM; Lazarenko enjoyed the majority support of 65 deputies of 76 voted.
Of interest is that Ivan Lazarenko is not the sole representative of the family in the ruling elite of the region. Pavel Lazarenko’s son Alexander is a deputy of the City Council in Dnepropetrovsk.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 31, 2006
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