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| - Ukraine's parliament on Thursday appointed a new central bank chief after the controversial departure of his predecessor and amid concerns in Western countries over the bank's independence. Kyrylo Shevchenko, 47, was appointed to the position after securing the minimum 226 votes necessary, with a total of 332 lawmakers casting their ballots in favour of the candidate put forward by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Shevchenko, the former head of the large state-owned bank, Ukrgasbank, vowed to preserve the independence of the institution in comments ahead of the vote. "I will not allow uncontrolled inflation," Shevchenko also told lawmakers before the ballot, addressing key concerns among economists and Ukraine's Western backers. The IMF and the international business community expressed deep concern after the former governor of Ukraine's central bank, Yakiv Smoliy, resigned earlier this month citing political pressure. During his departure, Smoliy accused Zelensky along with lawmakers and the prime minister of pushing for "uncontrolled printing of money for the government". The IMF on Tuesday reiterated to Ukrainian authorities that the independence of the central bank was an important condition for financial assistance. In June the IMF unblocked $2.1 billion worth of aid under a new $5 billion plan to help Ukraine. Analysts urged caution over Shevchenko's appointment ahead of the vote saying the new bank chief had an unproven track record. "Not many people know much about him," Timothy Ash, a London-based economist and Ukraine expert, tweeted Wednesday evening. He is "not proven as a reformer. No one really knows where he stands on key issues," Ash added. osh/jbr/rl
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