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Ukrainian Security Service officers detain Major General Valeriy Shaytanov on suspicion of high treason and terrorism in Kyiv on April 14.
Ukrainian Security Service officers detain Major General Valeriy Shaytanov on suspicion of high treason and terrorism in Kyiv on April 14.

Ukraine Live Blog: Zelenskiy's Challenges (Archive)

An archive of our recent live blogging of the crisis in Ukraine's east.

10:28 29.8.2019

Hmm...

It's likely not to have anything to do with the country's ongoing crisis, but you can read more about te collapsed building near Lviv here. (The latest death toll is eight, including one child.)

10:30 29.8.2019
10:31 29.8.2019

Here is today's map of the latest situation in the Donbas conflict zone according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. (CLICK ITO ENLARGE.)

12:47 29.8.2019
12:54 29.8.2019

And here's a Verkhovna Rada update from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service:

Ukrainian Parliament Begins New Session, Honcharuk Proposed As PM

Ukrainian lawmakers take their oath of office during the first session of the newly-elected parliament in Kyiv on August 29.
Ukrainian lawmakers take their oath of office during the first session of the newly-elected parliament in Kyiv on August 29.

KYIV -- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has proposed nominating Oleksiy Honcharuk as the country’s next prime minister during the first session of parliament following elections that swept his Servant of the People party to an unprecedented mandate.

Honcharuk, a 35-year-old deputy head in the presidential office, was chosen as the candidate by Zelenskiy, according to a parliamentary draft resolution at the August 29 inaugural session, where the former comedian-turned politician is to deliver a state-of-the-nation address where he will outline his political and economic goals, along with key cabinet posts.

Honcharuk has spent much of his career as a lawyer, eventually becoming a lead partner at a firm that specializes in real estate development. In 2015 he ran the EU-funded nongovernmental organization BRDO, which focused on reforms and advised Stepan Kubiv, the first deputy prime minister during ex-President Petro Poroshenko’s administration.

Oleksiy Honcharuk (file photo)
Oleksiy Honcharuk (file photo)

According to the constitution, the ruling coalition or majority party in parliament appoints the prime minister, as well as Cabinet posts, the chief prosecutor, and other positions.

Zelenskiy’s Servant of the People party took a solid majority of 254 parliamentary seats in last month’s elections for the 450-seat legislature.

That unprecedented mandate is expected to give Zelenskiy a free hand to "break the system," as he pledged during his election campaign in April.

Zelenskiy will have to deal with finding a solution to a violent conflict with Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, fighting corruption, and launching economic reforms in an ex-Soviet country that remains one of the poorest in Europe.

Among the 27 agenda items for the marathon session on August 29 is the consideration of a bill to lift lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution.

Because it’s a constitutional amendment, the bill requires a two-thirds majority vote that Servant of the People lacks.

For Ukrainians, abolishing immunity has consistently been one of the most desired anti-corruption measures, according to public opinion polls.

For a time, it was a condition for a visa-free travel deal with the European Union, but the demand was dropped after a report by the EU’s legal counsel advised against it.

The draft resolution showed that Vadym Prystaiko will be nominated as foreign minister, Andriy Zagorodniuk as defense minister, and Ruslan Ryaboshapka as Prosecutor-General.

Between 30 and 100 legislative bills will be considered, Servant of the People deputy Yuriy Kamilchuk told the 112 Ukraine channel.

"There is a chance that we’ll adopt more than 30, and maybe up to 100 draft laws," he said.

With reporting by Interfax, 112 Ukraine, and Ukrayinska Pravda
12:58 29.8.2019
13:00 29.8.2019
13:57 29.8.2019
14:04 29.8.2019
14:56 29.8.2019

BREAKING: Ukrainian lawmakers have approved Oleksiy Honcharuk as the country’s next prime minister during the first session of parliament following elections that swept President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party to an unprecedented mandate.

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