Chernihiv is example of how government destroys local self-government through pressure and persecution - Chernenko
Political persecution and pressure on the local government in Chernihiv have led to the central government completely losing electoral support in this city.
This is how Oleksandr Chernenko, People's Deputy of the VIII convocation, former head of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, commented on the consequences of the resignation of the Secretary of the Chernihiv City Council, acting mayor Oleksandr Lomako, Censor.NET reports.
"Chernihiv has already become a classic example of how the central government is trying to destroy the independence of local self-government by political means: through pressure and persecution. Chernihiv residents appreciated this: according to sociological data, almost 70% of Chernihiv residents were satisfied with the activities of the former acting mayor Oleksandr Lomaka. Instead, only 17% of respondents positively assessed the work of Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, the head of the Chernihiv city military administration, while 68% gave a negative assessment. Sociology shows an obvious fact: the government has lost electoral support in Chernihiv, and this process is irreversible," Chernenko said.
The expert reminded that political pressure on the city began two years ago.
"The authorities used the courts under their control to illegally dismiss the mayor of Chernihiv, Vladyslav Atroshenko, who was elected by the people of Chernihiv. This step was accompanied by trumped-up charges and was aimed at subduing the independent city government. However, the local government team withstood and continued to work effectively in the city. The authorities tried to paralyze the work of the city council through searches, threats, and blocking decisions. When these methods failed, the authorities forced the acting mayor Oleksandr Lomako to resign, blackmailing him with budget disruption, stopping transport and denying funding for vital projects," Chernenko said.
According to him, after the recent dismissal of Lomako from the post of acting mayor of Chernihiv, no new secretary has been appointed, and the work of the city council is blocked.
"Now the right to run the city has passed to one official appointed from the center, the head of the city military administration, Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, who was not elected by the community. In fact, Chernihiv residents no longer manage their city," emphasized Chernenko.
He emphasized that the continuing struggle against local self-government in Chernihiv shows that the central government is preparing for the elections.
"We cannot ignore that the authorities are already preparing for the upcoming elections. Instead of focusing on the war and supporting the frontline, we see attempts to destroy political competitors by law enforcement agencies and courts," the expert summarized.
