by Igor KossovDecember 3, 2023 1:07 AM1 min read
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has told Der Spiegel that Ukraine is moving towards authoritarianism, seemingly making a veiled criticism of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“At some point we will no longer be any different from Russia, where everything depends on the whim of one man,” the former heavyweight boxing champion said in a Dec. 1 interview.
Zelensky’s spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
The Kyiv mayor said that Ukraine was leaderless and chaotic in the opening months of the full-scale war, and credited Ukraine’s mayors with playing key leadership roles, protecting their residents and supporting the military.
But Klitschko believes the President’s Office sees mayors merely as an atavistic obstacle to the centralization of power.
Despite being the mayor of Ukraine’s capital, Klitschko said he hasn’t talked to Zelensky since the full-scale invasion began.
Zelensky’s administration has been none too pleased with Klitschko’s handling of Kyiv’s protection since February 2022. Their public comments repeatedly took the mayor to task for the poor conditions of the city’s bomb shelters and prolonged blackouts.
Klitschko and Zelensky have been at odds since the president’s first year in office. The conflict has played out in repeated investigations and attempts to remove the mayor from the Kyiv City State Administration.
I pray that the mayors and all public officials try to keep their discontent under wraps. This kind of language will not help in ending this war. Yes be vigilant and if there is fear of authoritarianism, do what you can to ensure dictatorial ambitions are kept in check, but do it quietly.
I know that war causes stress in people, but I agree with you; they should just shut up in front of the public and discuss their with each other. It serves no purpose to spill the beans in front of the world stage.
Fucking hell Vitalyk! Are you ganging up with traitor Arestovich?
If not, shut up and keep this bullshit to private conversations.
I agree somewhat, but I must say that I think Zelensky became increasingly authoritarian.
Firing the head of the special forces behind Zelensky’s back was a dick move.
However, despite that I have always considered Zelensky to be a questionable guy, we have no other choice than to give him full support.
^bert
Why do more and more Ukrainian bigwigs need a stage lately to announce far and wide what no one should hear outside their circle? I don’t get it.