Volodymyr Zelenskyy became president of Ukraine in 2019, having previously (and ironically) played the role of president on a TV show called “Servant of the People.” Upon assuming real-life office, he appointed several of his former TV colleagues to positions in his actual administration, per BBC. Serhiy Trofimov, for example, was a producer in Zelenskyy’s Kvartal 95 studio, while Ivan Bakanov, who ran the studio, was appointed deputy head of Ukraine’s SBU security service. Similarly, Serhiy Shefir, a former scriptwriter and producer at the studio, became Zelenskyy’s chief assistant while in office. A studio co-founder and producer were also given jobs in Zelenskyy’s administration, or as political aides.
According to Andrii Bohdan, Zelenskyy’s ex-chief of staff, Zelenskyy makes political appointments based on personal sympathy and friendship, rather than actual qualifications (per Wilson Center). The president’s party isn’t alone in this practice, however. The Holos opposition party, established by singer Sviatoslav Vakaruchk, once nominated comedian Serhii Prytula to run for mayor of Kyiv.
