Rustem Umerov, the first Crimea native to get such a high post in Kyiv, is praised for his diplomatic and management skills.

Rustem Umerov, the first Crimea native to get such a high post in Kyiv, is praised for his diplomatic and management skills.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s choice for the country’s new defense minister sends two clear signals to Ukraine’s allies and adversaries: Kyiv is serious about cleaning up corruption, and steadfast about regaining Crimea from Russian control.

Rustem Umerov, whom Zelenskyy has put forward to replace Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, is a Crimean Tatar with deep business and political experience, including chairing Ukraine’s commission monitoring international financial and military aid to the country’s war effort. As head of the State Property Fund since last year, he has revitalized the country’s privatization efforts.

The defense ministry “needs new approaches,” Zelenskyy said in dismissing Reznikov, whose ministry has been plagued by corruption allegations. Reznikov himself hasn’t been implicated, but the controversy has tainted the ministry.

Umerov, 41, will become the first Muslim and Crimean Tatar to gain such a high post in the Ukrainian government. In addition to his financial acumen, Umerov’s appointment will mean a deeper integration of the Crimean Tatar community into decision-making in Kyiv. It also clearly indicates Ukraine’s adamant determination to take Crimea back.

  • chaogomu
    11•1 year ago

    And the absolute worst part of Soviet history is that for most, it was a massive improvement over life under the Tsars. Because fuck the Tsars and their inbred nonsense.

    • @[email protected]English
      3•1 year ago

      Tsar Nick II was exceptionally useless. He was more interested in keeping up appearances in the country than actually improving it. And he started a pointless war for no reason in an attempt at boosting morale, where he ended up getting his asses handed to him, and while he did have his loyalists around him, unrest kept on growing, and I’m sure he would’ve eventually gotten killed even without joining WW1. History doesn’t really repeat itself, but it often rhymes, so I’m curious how the current tsar-wannabe will end up.