Ukraine’s new prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, has registered five criminal investigations into “possible illegal actions” by former President Petro Poroshenko when appointing Supreme Court judges. The most extraordinary of several potential charges is of “action aimed at the violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or seizing of state power” (Article 109 § 1 and §3 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code).
This is the first criminal case against Mr. Poroshenko since Ms. Venediktova became the country’s top prosecutor, but she actively promoted at least one prosecution in her capacity as acting director of the State Bureau of Investigators (SBI). It is fairly widely believed that Prosecutor General Ruslan Ryaboshapka was dismissed early in March at least in part because of his refusal to sign an indictment against Mr. Poroshenko. Since his dismissal, Mr. Ryaboshapka has reiterated his view that the charges were “legal rubbish,” unlawful and without foundation. However, he also said he thought it likely that Ms. Venediktova would sign the document that she had, in all likelihood, co-authored while SBI acting director.