Asked about the investigation into money embezzlement accusations against Lviv officials in preparations for the city’s 750-th anniversary,

Yury Lutsenko said the probe is the responsibility of prosecutors. “Frankly speaking, I am glad that the prosecutor’s office in Lviv is now headed by Bahanets. I think, he is a committed and honest prosecutor. I knew him before when he was working in Donetsk and Rivne. I hope the police and prosecution will work in harness in Lviv, as cases of official corruption are too frequent,” the interior minister admitted.

He praised local police for active efforts in uprooting corruption. However, although the police regularly send case materials on official corruption to the prosecution, the latter takes time with bringing corrupt officials to account.

Turning to the forthcoming mayoral elections in Kyiv, Yury Lutsenko said his party, People’s Self-Defense, has drawn up 34 bills which, when passed by Verkhovna Rada, will make a core of the so-called Anti-Criminal Onslaught and engage the police, SBU, and prosecution in joint work to curb corruption.

I will spare no effort to have a single candidate for Kyiv mayoral elections fielded by the democratic forces, Lutsenko stressed.

I admit my wish to become a Kyiv mayor, but I’ll put up my candidature only if my colleagues in the Orange coalition support me, the interior minister added.

He told journalists that talks are scheduled for next week among the democratic parties to nominate a single candidate for Kyiv mayor. Lutesnko assured that, even if he is not nominated, he will back any single candidate to put an end to Chernovetsky administration which gives the Ukrainian capital a black eye in Europe.