DISINFO: Ukrainian parliament caved in for the IMF
SUMMARY
The Verkhovna Rada supported the idea, agreed with the IMF, on the appointment of the Head of the board of Ukrgasbank, Kyrylo Shevchenko, to the post of Head of the National Bank of Ukraine. It is not Zelenskyy who nominated Shevchenko to the post of Head of the NBU, rather the IMF appointed him. There will be no independent leadership of the NBU in Ukraine.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine, which is often claimed to be under external control from the US, NATO, the EU or IMF. There is no evidence that the IMF chose the new head of the National Bank of Ukraine. Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of International Monetary Fund stated previously: "It is in the interest of Ukraine to preserve the independence of the NBU and it is also a requirement under the current IMF-supported programme. I urged President Zelenskyy to stay the course of sound monetary and financial policies – those are key to stronger investment and inclusive growth." On 15 July 2020, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted the candidacy of Kyrylo Shevchenko to the Verkhovna Rada. The next day 332 deputies voted for him. 47-year-old Shevchenko is a banker with previous experience in the field. For the last six years, he was head of the state bank Ukrgasbank.