"Childishness and resentment": Kostenko comments on Fedorov’s proposal to hold elections during war
Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security Roman Kostenko commented on former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s proposal to seek ways of holding elections in Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion. He interpreted Fedorov’s proposal as an attempt to pressure the head of state following the personnel reshuffle.
Kostenko made the statement during journalist Iryna Romaliiska’s broadcast on the Butusov Plus YouTube channel, Censor.NET reports.
Kostenko assesses Fedorov’s initiative
Asked how he viewed Fedorov’s proposal to hold elections under martial law, the MP replied: "With disappointment, to be honest."
"A person must understand what they are calling for during a war. I understand that he is no longer part of the team, that they did not find a place for him there and that he is offended by this. But we have been through this before in our history, and we understand where it leads. First, we do not understand how to hold them (the elections. - Ed.), and second, what consequences this may have," Kostenko said.
The MP noted that Fedorov did not say a word about either the President or any names in his address, instead only displaying photographs during the video.
"It is childish, to be honest," the MP said.
Kostenko believes it is currently unrealistic to hold elections.
"I think, I see this as a threat to the President: ‘Look, you did not appoint me to any position, so now I am going to destabilise the situation inside the country.’ That is how I see it. There is no other rational way to interpret this, because we are fighting a bloody war and our people are under missile and bomb attacks. Look at Kharkiv, look at Kherson, look at Sumy and other cities that are constantly under fire! People do not know how they will survive until tomorrow, while someone is dreaming of seizing power and running in elections. This is absurd during a war, forgive me. We are a democratic country, and at the first opportunity, as soon as it becomes possible, elections must of course be held, because everyone has already been in office too long. But preserving the country must now be the priority," the MP stressed.
Background
- On 18 August, former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov recorded an address to Ukrainians in which he said the country must find a mechanism for holding elections during the war.
- The Office of the President described former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s proposal to hold elections during the war as showing "a complete lack of realism."
