Political scientist believes criminal proceedings against Lytvyn unlikely
Political scientist Vadym Karasiov has said that it is unlikely that a criminal case will be opened against current Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn due to the opening of criminal proceedings against second Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma (1994-2005).
"I rule out the scenario [about the opening of criminal cases] against Lytvyn and [former Prosecutor General Mykhailo] Potebenko, although not completely," he said at a press conference on Friday.
Karasiov said that it was unlikely, because "Lytvyn suits the Regions Party."
"He is working completely in line with the policies of the Regions Party. He is fully integrated into the policies being produced by [the presidential administration]," Karasiov said.
He noted that Lytvyn had deputy immunity, unlike Kuchma.
Karasiov also suggested that the opening of a criminal case against Kuchma could be linked to a desire to weaken the impact of the current chief of the presidential administration, Serhiy Liovochkin.
"The current chief of the presidential administration was the first assistant to Kuchma, as well as Lytvyn's assistant and companion," he said.
Karasiov said he did not exclude that this could also be the revenge by one group of oligarchs, "for example that from Donetsk," against groups of oligarchs, "who are currently in the entourage of the president."
"Maybe, indirectly, they decided to weaken the positions of the head of the presidential administration," he said.