Ex-minister decries surveillance of wife by SBU

The SBU has accused the former minister of breaking the law when he appointed a local official arbitrarily – and opened a criminal investigation.

“There is a by-law allowing to appoint officials by-passing a competitive basis. This has always been common practice. Typically, local officials are appointed after checking up their appointments with heads of oblast administrations.

The person I appointed was dismissed in about 2 months, with another official appointed in his place – and also without any competition,” Kujbida argued.

The ex-minister complained his wife had been shadowed by SBU operatives. “They put up a post near the home of my mother-in-law. With me, they behaved decently, without any threats, even apologized for harassment, saying they had their orders. I understand the officers, but I will never understand a situation when secret police are used for political ends in a country declaring itself a democracy,” Vasyl Kujbida stressed.

“Such goings-on are related to the upcoming local elections. When I returned to Kyiv from a visit to Lviv where I had talks on my running for Lviv mayor, the SBU summoned me and notified of their accusations. At the time, the link between these two things escaped me,” Kujbida added.