Viktor Shokin
Viktor Shokin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 13th General Prosecutor of Ukraine | |
| In office 10 February 2015 – 29 March 2016 | |
| President | Petro Poroshenko |
| Preceded by | Vitaly Yarema |
| Succeeded by | Yuriy Lutsenko[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 November 1952 Kiev |
| Political party | unaffiliated |
Viktor Mikolajovićh Shokin (Ukrainian: Віктор Миколайович Шокін) is a former General Prosecutor of Ukraine.
Biography
Shokin was born 4 November 1952 in Kiev.[2] After graduating the Kharkiv Juristic Institute (today Yaroslav the Wise Law Academy of Ukraine) in 1980, Shokin worked for the Prosecutor General Office as investigator until 2001. In the interview to Ukrayinska Pravda he stated that he was forced to retire in 2001 after refusing to take on the case against Yulia Tymoshenko.[3]
Shokin was appointed General Prosecutor of Ukraine on 10 February 2015.[4] He became deeply unpopular and was accused of blocking major cases against allies and influential figures and hindering the fight against corruption in Ukraine.[5] Various street protests demanding Shokin's resignation were held[6] and his Deputy Prosecutor, Vitaly Kasko, resigned on 15 February 2016 denouncing the corruption and lawlessness of the Prosecutor's office. US Vice-President Joe Biden lobbied for Shokin resignation and the Obama Administration withheld a billion dollars in loan guarantees for the time Shokin held office.[7][8]
Prosecutor General Shokin on 16 February 2016 submitted a letter of resignation.[9] Although the next day an official of the prosecution office stated "As far as I know he has taken a paid leave".[10] On 19 February 2016 presidential press secretary Sviatoslav Tsegolko wrote on Twitter that the presidential administration had received an official letter of resignation from Shokin.[11] On 16 March 2016 an official of the prosecution office stated that Shokin had resumed his work.[4] On 16 March 2016 Shokin had not been formally dismissed.[12] Shokin was formally dismissed in a parliamentary vote on 29 March 2016.[13] Following his dismissal Shokin went into retirement.[14]
Joe Biden
Then Vice president Joe Biden threatened the Prime Minister of Ukraine that if he did not fire Shokin, that the US would hold back $1,000,000,000 of loan guarantees. "I said, “Nah, I’m not going to—or, we’re not going to give you the billion dollars.” They said, “You have no authority. You’re not the president.” The president said—I said, “Call him.” I said, “I’m telling you, you’re not getting the billion dollars.” I said, “You’re not getting the billion. I’m going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours.” I looked at them and said, “I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money.” Well, son of a bitch. He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time."[15]
Shokin was dragging his feet on probing the widespread corruption left over from the recent Ukrainian regime change, which saw the previous prime minister Victor Yanukovych flee to Russia. There is little evidence that he was looking into any corruption[16], let alone a corruption probe into Burisma Holdings, a natural gas firm that employed Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, as a board member.[17][18] Hunter Biden’s ties to Burisma Holdings was criticized in a New York Times editorial.[19]
References
- ^ Lutsenko appointed prosecutor general in Ukraine, UNIAN (12 May 2016)
- ^ Template:Ru icon/(website has automatic Google Translate option) Short bio, LIGA
- ^ Nayem, M., Leshchenko, S. Vikor Shokin: Piskun is afraid to go on confrontation with me. Ukrayinska Pravda. 14 December 2009
- ^ a b PGO Shokin back after long leave, UNIAN (16 March 2016)
- ^ EU hails sacking of Ukraine’s prosecutor Viktor Shokin, The Irish Times (29 March 2016)
- ^ Auto-Maidan protesters arrived at Poroshenko’s residence, demanding Shokin’s resignation (photos), UNIAN (31 October 2015)
"Poroshokin" rally protests against Poroshenko, Shokin, Kyiv Post (31 October 2015)
Demonstrators protest Shokin's firing of anti-corruption prosecutors, Kyiv Post (Mar. 25, 2016)
Ukrainian Protesters Demand Dismissal Of Prosecutor-General, Radio Free Europe (March 29, 2016) - ^ REFORMING UKRAINE AFTER THE REVOLUTIONS, The New Yorker (5 September 2016 issue)
- ^ The Geopolitical Therapist, The Atlantic (26 August 2016)
- ^ "Prosecutor General Shokin resigns (UPDATED)". www.kyivpost.com. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
- ^ Chief prosecutor Shokin on leave – PGO, Interfax-Ukraine (17 February 2016)
- ^ Poroshenko's Office Announces Receipt Of Shokin Resignation, Radio Free Europe (19 February 2016)
- ^ Profile committee recommends parliament back prosecutor general's resignation, Interfax-Ukraine (16 March 2016)
- ^ Rada agrees to dismiss Ukrainian Prosecutor General Shokin, Interfax-Ukraine (29 March 2016)
- ^ Template:Uk icon Shokin then went into retirement, Ukrayinska Pravda (29 March 2016)
- ^ "Biden Reportedly 'Bragged' About the Firing of a Prosecutor Who Was Investigating His Son's Firm". lawandcrime.com. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/world/europe/political-stability-in-the-balance-as-ukraine-ousts-top-prosecutor.html
- ^ "Joe Biden's 2020 Ukrainian nightmare: A closed probe is revived". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
- ^ Vogel, Kenneth P.; Mendel, Iuliia (2019-05-01). "Biden Faces Conflict of Interest Questions That Are Being Promoted by Trump and Allies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
- ^ Board, The Editorial (2015-12-11). "Opinion | Joe Biden Lectures Ukraine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
External links
