Zelenskyy officially proposes Umierov as defence minister, Crimean Tatar representative body asks for MPs' support
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed to the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) that Rustem Umierov be appointed as Minister of Defence of Ukraine, and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People has called on MPs to support his candidacy.
Source: the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; a statement by the Presidium of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People shared by Refat Chubarov
Details: The president submitted a draft resolution to Parliament on the appointment of Umierov to the post of Defence Minister on 5 September (No. 10004). Prior to that, the Verkhovna Rada had accepted the resignation of Oleksii Reznikov, who resigned at Zelenskyy's request.
The Mejlis noted that Rustem Umierov is a representative of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. He was born in Soviet Uzbekistan, one of the places where the Crimean Tatars were deported by the Soviet authorities, but grew up in his native Crimea. He received a higher education and started his career in independent Ukraine.
Quote from Mejlis: "All the stages and successful outcomes of Rustem Umierov's professional and political activity, and his human qualities and principles, allow us to express our support for the proposal of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and to call on MPs to resolve to appoint Rustem Umierov as the Minister of Defence of Ukraine."
For reference: Ukraine’s defence minister is appointed by the Verkhovna Rada further to a proposal from the president.
Reznikov resigned following a number of scandals concerning state procurement for the armed forces, mainly relating to overpriced eggs and jackets. Reznikov denies that procurement prices were inflated.
Rustem Umerov is due to replace Reznikov as Defence Minister this week. Umerov was previously the head of Ukraine’s State Property Fund for a year.
The Verkhovna Rada removed Umierov from his post as head of the State Property Fund on 5 September.
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