Parliament appoints Yakiv Smoliy as NBU head

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has appointed Yakiv Smoliy as governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).

A total of 247 MPs voted for the adoption of a respective draft resolution, No. 7501, on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Earlier on Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Valeria Gontareva as NBU head.

As reported, on May 10, 2017, Gontareva tendered her resignation as NBU governor. Since then she has been on vacation. Before the appointment of the new head the NBU is managed by first deputy governor Yakiv Smoliy.

On January 18, President Petro Poroshenko nominated Smoliy for NBU governor. At the same time, a resolution was issued to dismiss Gontareva.

On February 5, the Verkhovna Rada committee on financial and banking activities recommended that the parliament approve draft resolutions on Smoliy's appointment as NBU governor and Gontareva's dismissal from the post.

Gontareva was appointed to the post by parliament on June 19, 2014, replacing Stepan Kubiv at this post.