Dismissal of Dnipropetrovsk region governor part of battle of oligarchs, say experts

© Mikhail Palinchak/Ukrainian president’s press service/TASS

Poroshenko dismisses Dnipropetrovsk Governor Kolomoisky

MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. The situation around the dismissal of oligarch Igor Kolomoisky from the post of governor of Ukraine’s heavily industrialized Dnipropetrovsk region is a classical instance of the continued internal strife of oligarchs for slices of the pie, Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the upper house of Russian parliament said on Wednesday.

“This is a classical instance of the continued inter-Ukrainian strife of oligarchs for slices of the pie,” she said.

The Kolomoisky story shows in bold relief that it is too difficult to have any discussions of Ukrainian statehood or state institutes, Matviyenko said.

While making declarations about its sovereignty and independence, “Ukraine has long lost its sovereignty, in effect, and is functioning in many aspects under a de facto external supervisory control,” she said.

“Any strategist always knows there’s no allowing struggle on two fronts, even if he isn’t well-versed in strategy-making,” said Sergey Mironov, the leader of A Just Russia Party. “A war at two frontlines always ends up in a defeat of the side leading it.”

“In the meantime, by dismissing Kolomoisky President Poroshenko practically opens a second front for himself,” Mironov said.

© Mikhail Palinchak/Ukrainian presidential press service/TASS

Russian lawmaker warns Ukrainian tycoons may rise in revolt against president

Strife in the upper echelons of Ukrainian state power that has been conducted under the carpet so far has moved into limelight after Poroshenko’s move to fire Kolomoisky from the post of governor, said the State Duma deputy Frants Klintsevich, who is deputy chairman of the United Russia party caucus in the Duma.

“From now on, the infighting among the clans in Ukraine will only be getting fiercer and fiercer,” he said.

President Petro Poroshenko fired Igor Kolomoisky by a decree that, which said he had answered Kolomoisky’s resignation request. Conflict between the two men was sparked by the Kiev government’s efforts to deprive Kolomoisky of control over Ukrnafta, the leading company in the field of oil refining.