Andrii Pyshnyi on Facebook on 4 November said he does not plan to leave his post as head of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
Pyshnyi’s position on resignation and the process
Pyshnyi emphasised that ‘I did not write or submit any resignation letter. I continue to perform my duties and have no intention of leaving the post under political pressure,’ said the head of the NBU. He linked the talk of his dismissal to political pressure and said he has no plans to vacate the post under such circumstances.
Pyshnyi also said that certain Members of Parliament are attempting to put the issue of his dismissal on the Verkhovna Rada’s agenda. He reminded readers of the seven-year term of office for the head of the NBU and of the exhaustive list of grounds for early dismissal set out in law.
Claims of pressure, discrediting and readiness to report
The head of the NBU said there has been prolonged political pressure, manipulation and a coordinated campaign to discredit him. He said the situation concerns not only him personally but also the independence of state institutions.
Pyshnyi stressed: ‘The independence of the National Bank cannot be subordinated to the wishes of individual politicians and cannot depend on how satisfied they are with the NBU’s decisions,’ he said. He added that he is ready to answer questions about the regulator’s performance and to explain decisions taken during the war.
Background: searches, rumours of a resignation and possible consideration in the Verkhovna Rada
Information about a possible resignation emerged on 21 October, the day of searches by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) at the NBU’s premises. At the time, media reports suggested Pyshnyi had supposedly written a resignation letter citing ill health; the NBU denied this, and sources said no such letter had been submitted.
On 4 November it became known that the Verkhovna Rada may consider the issue of Pyshnyi’s dismissal, and Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zheleznyak said the consideration could take place on 12 November. A draft resolution on the dismissal is not registered on the Verkhovna Rada’s website, and there is no official submission from the president.
Pyshnyi emphasised that he does not intend to conceal any decision to end his term and that, should he decide to do so, he will announce it personally with a report and comments. ‘This is a matter of trust in the state, its institutions and the rules by which they operate,’ the head of the NBU concluded.
