Everyone, from the president to ministers, has advisers. Their names aren't widely publicized. However, each ministry responded to inquiries from members of the parliamentary group "Deputy Control" and provided a list of advisers as of the summer.
Under the austerity regime imposed by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, ministers no longer have the resources to employ a large staff of advisers. Therefore, only a few are employed permanently. However, ministers can hire an unlimited number of assistants on a part-time basis, which is precisely what many do. Such advisers are not contracted, are not civil servants, do not enjoy the benefits due to officials, and do not receive a salary, at least not from the state budget. Publicly, they deny receiving any material benefits from their collaboration. The official line is that they are all altruists, living off their savings and working for the good of the state. However, it's businessmen, not party officials or politicians, who often become advisers. For them, the most important thing in this job is the contacts and opportunities available. They are the first to learn about upcoming tenders, have access to ministries, and have the opportunity to quickly resolve pressing issues.
"It's an opportunity to interact closely with the minister, and gain additional contacts. But such work doesn't offer any benefits for a politician's career. Perhaps you're occasionally invited to meetings," one former MP adviser explained the benefits of such collaboration.
Another type of advisor is retired officials. They are considered the bearers of professional memory and are reluctant to be dismissed without further ado. Often, these people are already of retirement age and, based on their own experience, can offer some valuable advice.
Deputy Prime Minister Zubko - assistants on staff
Deputy Prime Minister Gennady Zubko has managed to hire two assistants, Alina Tokar and Natalia Zabrudskaya. However, he also has ten other people who assist him on housing and utilities and decentralization issues. However, their names aren't particularly well-known, and they aren't known for their active media presence.
Ministry of Defense - volunteers and a general
At the very beginning of his tenure, President Petro Poroshenko spoke of a "volunteer landing force" that had arrived at the Ministry of Defense. Some indeed received positions, but most settled into freelance advisory positions. The most popular of these was entrepreneur and active blogger Yuriy Biryukov, who founded the volunteer organization for army assistance, "Wings of the Phoenix." His responsibilities at the ministry included reforming the soldier supply system.
Also among Poltorak's advisers (read more about it Stepan Poltorak: The new Kuchma needs a new Kuzmuk) Another volunteer is Anna Maiboroda, a former PR specialist for Danone. Since March 2014, they have organized a group of volunteers who have been delivering essential weapons and protective equipment—sights, helmets, and body armor—to the front.
Besides volunteers, the minister also has among his advisors a representative of the old guard: General Ivan Svyda, former Chief of the General Staff and Army Commander. He was appointed to this position by President Viktor Yushchenko. In one of his first interviews, the general said he planned to ensure the army's viability, requiring 20 billion hryvnias in funding. However, he has not made any significant reforms.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is hiding something
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is one of the few exceptions: it did not provide its data. However, it is known that Minister Arsen Avakov is a fan of the advisory system and grants them significant powers. For example, MP Mustafa Nayyem has been appointed as the overseer of the police force on the minister's behalf. He has been leading organizational work in the regions for several months now. Another of the minister's advisors, former head of the emergency services, Zorian Shkiryak, also carries out the minister's instructions, primarily in the ATO zone.
The Ministry of Social Policy is a party alliance
All of them are experts in the field of pension and social benefit calculation. Of particular note is former People's Deputy Alexander Mochkov. He is a Crimean businessman who served as a local council member and, in 2012, supported UDAR and entered parliament. At that time, the current Minister of Social Policy, Pavel Rozenko (Read more about it in the article Pavel Rozenko. The Story of the Minister of Subsidies and Pensions) was also a member of parliament. Rozenko and Mochkov worked closely together in the faction and co-authored many bills. In particular, they planned to strip former speakers and presidents of their privileges.
The Ministry of Education is consulting with the publisher
Serhiy Kvit has 25 advisers. Three of them were permanent and were listed in the minister's patronage service: Yulia Yurchenko, Roman Matviyko, and Iryna Skoropad. However, according to the minister's letter, Yulia Yurchenko was demoted from chief specialist to adviser due to staff reductions. In this position, she earns a salary of 1785 hryvnias, but receives small bonuses for length of service, seniority, and civil servant rank. For her ninth rank, she receives an additional 90 hryvnias.
Among the volunteers was Oleksandr Krasovitsky, director of the Kharkiv publishing house "Folio." He rarely comments on education. Publicly available sources only contain his comments regarding the publication of books commissioned by the Ministry of Education.
Yatsenyuk has proven personnel
The Prime Minister has 19 advisers working with him. According to open sources, these include former Deputy Minister of Economic Development Valeriy Pyatnitsky and Yuriy Tokarsky, consultant to the International Relations Department under the Viktor Yanukovych-era Presidential Administration.
In addition, Yatsenyuk brought in his long-time experts, whose professionalism he had already proven during the "Front of Change" campaign. For example, current MP Svitlana Voitsekhovskaya has been working with him for over ten years. She was the head of the National Bank's press service when Yatsenyuk headed it.
Ministry of Energy - 38 people
Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn consults with 38 people. Among them is former presidential adviser and head of a department in the Presidential Administration, Yuriy Bogutskyi. He also advised Leonid Kravchuk, served as Minister of Culture under Leonid Kuchma, was deputy head of the Presidential Administration under Viktor Yushchenko, and served as an adviser and head of the Committee on Nationalities and Religious Affairs under Viktor Yanukovych.
MFA - political scientist and press secretary
Pavlo Klimkin receives advice. For example, diplomat and long-time Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, China, North Korea, and other countries, Mykhailo Reznik. Also listed among the Foreign Minister's advisers are singer Ruslana and Petro Poroshenko's former press secretary. Irina Frieze, who has now become a member of parliament. Political scientist Viktor Nebozhenko also has the ability to influence the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' policy.
There is only one Ministry of Culture
Over the summer, Liliana Kolodka served as a full-time adviser to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture Vyacheslav Kyrylenko. However, according to the official website, she has now been transferred to the European Integration Department.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports are old friends
Two people work on the minister's staff: political scientist Pavlo Bulgak and former MP Andriy Pavlovsky. Both have a long-standing relationship with Minister Ihor Zhdanov—they are all members of Yulia Tymoshenko's team and have worked together for a decade.
"Igor is an old comrade and a good friend. Helping him is a pleasure and a great honor for me," Andrey Pavlovsky told KP Ukraine. "But there's no such position as 'advisor to the minister' in this ministry; I consult with his foster care service. I work on youth social protection, employment, and housing issues. I prepare reports and analytical papers on these topics."
The Ministry of Agricultural Development has brought in agricultural experts.
Minister of Agriculture Oleksiy Pavlenko is assisted by 18 advisers. As with the Ministry of Infrastructure, they come from business and expert circles and are responsible for specific areas. For example, Oleksiy Zubritsky is responsible for privatization, while Irina Palamar, president of the Livestock Breeders Association, is responsible for livestock farming.
Ministry of Information - advertiser and former MP
Minister Yuriy Stets has five assistants and advisors. The most prominent of them are former MP Oleksandr Bryhynets and advertising specialist Ivetta Delikatna. For both, collaboration with the ministry is an added bonus, and they emphasize this in their speeches. For example, Ivetta Delikatna is credited as a co-founder of a public organization and an advisor to the minister. Regarding her work at the ministry, Ivetta Delikatna is credited with the high-profile "Crimea is Ukraine" campaign, which filled outdoor advertising space a couple of months ago.
Oleksandr Bryginets is currently in the ATO zone, where his work at the ministry is focused on resuming Ukrainian television broadcasts. He says his semi-official status doesn't bother anyone there, and no one questions his authority.
"My job is to analyze the problem and report it to the minister," says Alexander. "The ministry makes the final decisions; I don't sign orders or handle financial matters, so I don't need an official position."
The Ministry of Infrastructure has set a record.
The ministry responsible for roads, ports, railways, and motor transport is popular among advisers. Therefore, Andrey Pivovarsky's ministry holds the absolute record for the number of external advisers. The minister and his deputies have exactly fifty of them. Typically, these are specialists well-known in certain circles.
But most of them are advisers to deputy ministers. In fact, Pivovarsky is advised by a team of ten people. As one of them told Liga, Andrey MotovilovetsAll of these people left the business world. For example, economist, investor, and banker Artemy Ershov, who worked at various banks, including, until last summer, at Russia's Sberbank. Or Alexander Myagkiy, who was involved in investments at Dragon Capital.
Question of the day: What advice would you give to our Cabinet of Ministers?
Yuri Karmazin, former deputy:
"The government must think about resuming industrial production in the country. And we don't even have a Ministry of Industry. We need to immediately restore trust in the banking system. We're asking the West for loans, but people currently have between $80 and $110 billion in cash. Why cash? Because they don't trust the banks."
Maria Kovalchuk, designer, Kyiv:
"I would advise the Cabinet of Ministers to respond more quickly to citizens' inquiries. Why is it that when you call the government hotline, they simply promise to record your call and reply by email in what seems like an eternity? And I could have given myself the same answer—it means nothing."
Anton Shirokiy, boatswain, Odessa:
— To show by personal example how we can unite the right and left halves of Ukraine, who still see our past and future differently.
Vadim Lisitsa, producer:
— Regularly leave your fairytale emerald city and come to us in reality!
Viktor Zavalny, agronomist. Zaporizhzhia:
"Pay more attention to the people who elected them and brought them to power. And less squabbling among yourselves, starting fights in the boardroom and thereby disgracing our country."
Nikolay Goryainov, miner, Krasnoarmeysk:
— Focus on social issues. People are becoming increasingly impoverished, and there are no signs of improvement in the lives of ordinary people. An anti-crisis program urgently needs to be created.
Vladimir Ilyin, theoretical physicist, Kharkov:
— Pay more attention to natural science education and mathematics, as it puts the mind in order.
Larisa Burlakova, veterinarian, Dnepropetrovsk:
— I would advise attracting more investment and talent capable of carrying out normal reforms without harming ordinary people.
Maya, reader of the site kp.ua:
"I would advise the Cabinet of Ministers to pay special attention to supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Investing in private entrepreneurs will create jobs and help the country become competitive with its foreign counterparts. Moreover, it will help Ukrainians realize that they are not employees, but owners, and that they alone are responsible for the country's well-being."
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