“Our view is this is an internal matter for Ukraine. Governors in Ukraine are appointed by the president,” Psaki said on Wednesday. “Removing a governor from power is well within the authority of President Poroshenko, and obviously, as we’ve seen from reporting, that’s the case here.”
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on Kolomoiskyi ‘s dismissal from the post of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Governor on Tuesday during a meeting with the Ukrainian oligarch.
Kolomoiskyi's appearance at the UkrTransNafta office came after the decision of the Ukrainian parliament to amend legislation on joint stock companies, reducing the oligarch's share in the enterprise and depriving him of crucial influence in the voting process.
Psaki noted that Washington is aware of a dispute involving new laws, and supports Ukraine’s steps to bring further reform and transparency to businesses.
Psaki also noted the efforts to put reforms in place aim to can crack down on issues like corruption and ensure greater transparency.
According to Poroshenko, Zaporizhia Regional State Administration head Valentin Reznichenko will now be appointed as acting Dnipropetrovsk Regional Governor.
Kolomoiskyi has reportedly accumulated an estimated wealth of around $6 billion. He is believed to sponsor a number of Ukrainian armed groups, including volunteer battalions that have committed human rights violations in the southeast of the country, where they have been fighting against independence supporters alongside the Kiev government forces.
Kolomoiskyi was appointed to the position Dnipropetrovsk Regional Governor after the 2014 coup in Ukraine by the then acting President Oleksandr Turchynov.
