![]() Yet it wasn’t just mayors in the predominantly Russian-speaking southeast of the country-who could be suspected of harboring pro-Russian sympathies-who came into conflict with Kyiv. ![]() Mamai was also eager to exploit Soviet nostalgia in his campaigns, clashing with patriotic voters. In April 2023, Poltava Mayor Oleksandr Mamai-whose ten-year rule had seen the destruction of historical sites around the city and attacks on activists and even judges-was fired and given a suspended sentence for embezzlement. The standoff continued even after the Russian invasion. ![]() By the next parliamentary elections, they intended to form their own political project: a diverse alliance of regional elites with a focus on greater local autonomy. The winners were mostly regional heavyweights that draw their support from local business clans.Īt the time, it seemed that these regional elites would be the main challenge faced by Zelensky in the future. Back then, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party was defeated in the mayoral elections in key cities. The standoff between the central government and the mayors in Ukraine has been going on since the 2020 local elections: the last major vote before Russia’s invasion. ![]() It’s true that Ukraine’s mayors are often corrupt, but by targeting individuals, the government is increasingly undermining the very idea of local self-government. The central government hopes to use the provisions of martial law to root out corruption at the local level while getting rid of inconvenient regional politicians at the same time. The recent arrest of one of the country’s most influential regional politicians, Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov, is the latest episode in a high-profile series of legal proceedings brought against Ukrainian mayors that continues despite the military freeze on political life. ![]() Distinguishing anti-corruption campaigns from political persecution in Ukraine has always been difficult, and even Russia’s invasion has not changed that. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |