The letter says that former Medvedchuk insider Oleksij Ishchenko is now deputy minister for regional development and construction. As a highly placed member of Kuchma administration, Ishchenko was directly implicated in falsifying the vote in the 2004 election.

“Oleksij Ishchenko was among the leaders of the SDPU who defected to the opposition on Jan. 20, 2005. What is then his role in the government of the current democratic coalition?” Yushchenko asks in his letter.

In a related move, Yushchenko lashed out at Communist party member Olha Ginzburg who still keeps her position as head of the State Archives Committee. “As head of this committee, the Communist party representative has abused her office by opposing the state policy aimed at restoring historical truth, banishing professionals from the committee. Is the Communist party a member of the ruling coalition? Why does its representative feel so confident in her official position?” Yushchenko stresses.

Finally, Pres Yushchenko writes, Yulia Tymoshenko’s adviser Oleksandr Zadorozhnij, Kuchma’s representative in the Rada, took excessive pains to railroad the so-called political reform that clipped Yushchenko’s power in 2005.

“The present government has declared openness and transparency in decision-making. This principle should, first and most, be applied to the cabinet’s personnel policy as the overall operation of the government depends on its staff. Were the appointments of these officials discussed by the coalition council? Were there alternative candidates for their positions?” Yushchenko asks indignantly.

In his letter, the president urges Premier Tymoshenko to examine the track records of these officials and to dismiss them from the government.

“I expect that all future appointment to government posts will comply with the letter and the spirit of the democratic coalition,” Yushchenko ends.