KIEV, Sept. 17 - Valeriy Khoroshkovskiy, a prominent businessman and a former Economy Minister, was Saturday elected the head of Inter Television's Supervisory Council, suggesting he may have become the largest shareholder in Ukraine's largest network.

The development makes Khoroshkovskiy an important figure ahead of the crucial general election in March 2006. It follows earlier media reports that Khoroshkovskiy, jointly with some Russian interests, may have acquired the majority stake in Inter.