KIEV, May 4 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko on Friday appointed Vasyl Kostytsky as a judge of the Constitutional Court apparently seeking to increase his influence in the top legal authority.

The appointment comes a day after Yushchenko has appointed Stepan Havrysh to a similar position. The president appoints a total of six judges in the 18-strong court.

The appointments are aimed at filling vacancies after Yushchenko has fired two judges that had been marred in controversies, including suspected corruption.