Ukraine: former general to lead gambling commission

Ivan Rudyi has been named the first director-general of the newly created Ukrainian Gambling and Lottery Commission (UGLC). 

Ukraine.- The government has named former special forces general Ivan Rudyi as the first director-general of the country’s new gambling regulator.

Rudyi, who led Ukraine’s anti-terrorist unit amid conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the Donblass region, has been confirmed for an initial four-year term at the helm of the Ukrainian Gambling and Lottery Commission (UGLC). 

The appointment has been confirmed by Oleg Nemchinov, leader of Ukraine’s Council of Ministers.

The UGLC was created as an independent government agency to monitor licensed gambling activities and operator conduct following the launch of regulated gambling in Ukraine.

It was created through a series of secondary laws that have been passed since the country’s parliament voted to re-legalise gambling in July.

Rudyi, who has also worked as an executive producer for Ukraine TV, will have his tenure as director-general capped at a maximum of two four-year terms. 

Other appointments to the UGLC include former Nato representative Yevhen Hetman as lead coordinator and Olena Vodolazhko as the chief legal officer.

The commission has begun the process to recruit for a further 230 positions, including six regional directorships which will report to the UGLC headquarters in Kyiv.

The UGLC will be monitored by an independent advisory, which will report on how it has conducted its duties on licensing and on maintaining compliance and market standards.