Ukraine's Interim Interior Minister Arsen Avakov appointed a prominent Ukrainian activist, Mykola Velichovich, as Deputy Interior Minister on Wednesday.
Velichovich was a leader in the self-declared defense unit of the Independence Square in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, during the anti-government protests, which began in late November and ousted Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovych, who is now a fugitive.
Interim Interior Minister Avakov previously disbanded a special police unit called "Berkut," which was blamed for killing protestors.
Avakov introduced the new deputy interior minister at a press conference, during which he said the activists in the Independence Square would cooperate with security forces in an attempt to build a more "transparent" unit.
The Interior Minister declared that activists could apply to join the security forces.
The Ukrainian parliament voted in favor of former President Viktor Yanukovych's dismissal last week and elected acting Interim President, Oleksander Turchynov, until next presidential elections on May 25.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
