Poroshenko dismisses Heletei as Ukraine’s defense minister

Monday, October 13, 2014 - 09:23 (EEST) Section: Latest news

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has dismissed Valeriy Heletei as Ukraine’s defense minister, the presidential press service has reported.
“The president satisfied a report on the resignation of the defense minister and will table in parliament on Monday a motion on the appointment of the new defense minister,” reads the statement.
The president said it was time to change the leadership of the Defense Ministry. He also expressed hope that his proposal would be supported at a meeting of parliament on October 14.
“I am confident that we won’t delay the vote for the candidacy of a new minister. I hope that it will be held on Tuesday,” Poroshenko said.
In his opinion, the decision to change the defense minister and a number of other personnel decisions, particularly regarding the dismissal of the leadership of the State Border Service and the creation of the Committee on Intelligence and the appointment of Ihor Smeshko as its chairman, will seriously strengthen law enforcement agencies and Ukraine’s defense capability.