EU hails sacking of Ukraine’s prosecutor Viktor Shokin
Political crisis continues as deals on a new coalition and premier prove elusive
Viktor Shokin, who has been fired as prosecutor general of Ukraine after an overwhelming vote in parliament. He was accused of blocking major cases against allies and influential figures and stymying moves to root out graft. Photograph: Roman Pilipey/EPA
The European Union has welcomed the dismissal of Ukraine’s scandal-ridden prosecutor general and called for a crackdown on corruption, even as the country’s political crisis deepened over efforts to form a new ruling coalition and appoint a new prime minister.
Ukraine’s parliament voted overwhelmingly to fire Viktor Shokin, ridding the beleaguered prosecutor’s office of a figure who is accused of blocking major cases against allies and influential figures and stymying moves to root out graft.