The SBI sees a reshuffle / Photo from 5.ua

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's ex-lawyer Oleksandr Babikov has been appointed first deputy director of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

The SBI reported on the appointment on its website.

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Babikov graduated from Ukraine's Yaroslav Mudryi National Law Academy. He worked at regional prosecutor's offices and the Prosecutor General's Office.

The SBI also appointed Oleksandr Sokolov as deputy head of the Bureau. He graduated from National Law Academy's Institute for training investigators for the Security Service of Ukraine. He worked at the SBU's regional departments, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the tax service.

Earlier on January 20, lawyer for victims of Maidan killings Yevhenia Zakrevska said that the appointment of Babikov to the post of the SBI's first deputy director could translate into a breakdown in cases against Yanukovych.

Yanukovych fled Ukraine for Russia in February 2014 amid Maidan protests during which the then authorities killed over 100 people.