Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)

This article is about the Ukrainian internal affairs ministry. For pre-2015 law enforcement agency, see Militsiya (Ukraine).
Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)
Міністерство внутрішніх справ України

Insignia of the ministry
Agency overview
Preceding agency
Type Government ministry
Headquarters vul. Akademika Bohomol'tsya 10, Kiev
Motto Безпека народу - найвищий Закон
Employees 152,000
Minister responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
Parent department Government of Ukraine
Website mvs.gov.ua

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Міністерство внутрішніх справ України, Ministerstvo vnutrishnikh sprav Ukrayiny, MVS) executes state policy for the protection of rights and liberties of citizens, investigates unlawful acts against the interest of society and state, fights crime, provides civil order, ensures civil security, traffic safety, and protects the security and protection of important individuals. It is a centralised agency headed by a Minister of Internal Affairs. The ministry closely operates with the office of General Prosecutor of Ukraine. It oversees the National Police of Ukraine[2] (police service) and the National Guard of Ukraine (gendarmerie).

Formerly, the Ministry directly controlled the Ukrainian national law enforcement agency, termed the militsiya (Ukrainian: міліція). This changed in July 2015, with the introduction of reforms by Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko to reduce corruption, whereby the militsiya was replaced with the National Police. Ukraine's militsiya was widely regarded as corrupt,[3] and it has received severe accusations of torture and ill-treatment.[4][5][6][7]

History

Name

History of Militsiya

Main article: Militsiya (Ukraine)

Ministers of Internal Affairs

Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
Міністр внутрішніх справ України
Incumbent
Arsen Avakov
since February 22, 2014
Appointer President of Ukraine
Term length Duration of the presidential term (5 years) or less due to earlier resignation or dismissal by the President
Inaugural holder Andriy Vasylyshyn
Formation August 24, 1991
Succession First Deputy Minister

The Minister of Internal Affairs directs the ministry. Prior to the 2015 police reform, the Minister was recognised as the head of the militsiya. Many former ministers have previously had experience of serving in the police, and many were, prior to taking up their posts, generals of the militsiya. Typically the Minister was afforded the rank of Colonel-General of the Militsiya upon taking up his post in the Ukrainian government. Yuriy Lutsenko and Vasyl Tsushko are the only former holders of the office who had never served in any law enforcement agency.

List of Ministers of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
Name From Until President Notes
Andriy Vasylyshyn August 24, 1991 July 21, 1994 Leonid Kravchuk First post-independence minister
Volodymyr Radchenko July 28, 1994 July 3, 1995 Leonid Kuchma Acting July 21–28, 1994
Yuriy Kravchenko July 3, 1995 March 26, 2001 Leonid Kuchma Involved in 'Eagles of Kravchenko' case
Yuriy Smirnov March 26, 2001 August 27, 2003 Leonid Kuchma
Mykola Bilokon August 27, 2003 February 3, 2005 Leonid Kuchma
Yuriy Lutsenko February 4, 2005 December 1, 2006 Viktor Yushchenko First civilian minister
Vasyl Tsushko December 1, 2006 December 18, 2007 Viktor Yushchenko First minister never directly subordinate to the president
Yuriy Lutsenko December 18, 2007 January 28, 2010 Viktor Yushchenko Acting January 28-March 11, 2010[8][9] In May 2009 first deputy (Interior) Minister Mykhailo Kliuyev served as acting Minister during a seven-day investigation.[10][11] After that Lutsenko resumed the post.[12]
Anatoliy Mohyliov March 11, 2010 November 7, 2011[13] Viktor Yanukovych First post-Orange revolution minister
Vitaliy Zakharchenko November 7, 2011[14] February 21, 2014.[15] Viktor Yanukovych Former head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine[14]
Arsen Avakov (acting) February 22, 2014 February 27, 2014 Oleksandr Turchynov (acting)
Arsen Avakov February 27, 2014 Oleksandr Turchynov (acting), Petro Poroshenko

The minister of Internal Affairs is responsible directly to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, to the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) and ultimately the President of Ukraine. His office is located in Kiev's Pechersk District.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rada supports coalition-proposed government lineup, Interfax-Ukraine (2 December 2014)
    Rada approves new Cabinet with three foreigners, Kyiv Post (2 December 2014)
    (Ukrainian) Rada voted the new Cabinet, Ukrayinska Pravda (2 December 2014)
    Ukraine arrests two top officials at cabinet meeting, BBC News (25 March 2015)
  2. ↑ National Police established in Ukraine, Interfax Ukraine (2 September 2015)
  3. ↑ Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer: Ukraine has become more corrupt over the last two years, The Ukrainian Week (9 July 2013)
  4. ↑ Ukraine: Victims of police brutality, Amnesty International USA (September 27, 2005)
    Amnesty International: Ukrainian police told not to touch foreign fans during Euro 2012, Kyiv Post (4 July 2012)
  5. ↑ Yanukovych calling for greater control over detention facilities, Kyiv Post (15 December 2011)
  6. ↑ Ukrainian Police Arrested For Alleged Torture, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (April 1, 2010)
  7. ↑ Ukrainian Police-Abuse Protests Come To The Capital, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (17 July 2013)
  8. ↑ Lutsenko says he's calm about his dismissal, Kyiv Post (28 January 2010)
  9. ↑ Regions Party: Kliuyev is legitimate head of Interior Ministry, Kyiv Post (1 February 2010)
  10. ↑ Speaker:Lutsenko suspended as Ukraine's interior minister, Kyiv Post (May 18, 2009)
  11. ↑ Kliuyev to serve as Ukraine's interior minister during Lutsenko's suspension from duty, Kyiv Post (May 16, 2009)
  12. ↑ Lutsenko says he will resume fulfilling duties as interior minister, Kyiv Post (May 27, 2009)
  13. ↑ Yanukovych appoints Mohyliov to Crimean post, Kyiv Post (7 November 2011)
  14. 1 2 Chief tax officer Zakharchenko appointed interior minister of Ukraine, Kyiv Post (7 November 2011)
  15. ↑ Rada suspends Acting Interior Minister Zakharchenko from his duties, Interfax-Ukraine (21 February 2014)

Further reading

External links

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