Ex-leader accuses Zelensky of using power to suppress political opponents

(MENAFN) Former President Petro Poroshenko has publicly accused current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of authoritarian practices aimed at suppressing political opponents, including himself. In an interview with a British newspaper, Poroshenko warned that Zelensky is using state power to neutralize rivals ahead of potential future elections.

Poroshenko, who lost the 2019 presidential election to Zelensky, claimed the current administration has targeted him with sanctions such as foreign travel bans and media restrictions, imposed in February. He interprets these measures as politically motivated to weaken opposition in case martial law ends and elections are held.

Although polls suggest that former General Valery Zaluzhny is the likely frontrunner in a hypothetical election, Poroshenko emphasized a broader pattern of repression: “Today Poroshenko, tomorrow Zaluzhny, [the] day after tomorrow anybody. This is authoritarianism.”

Despite these accusations, Poroshenko affirmed his support for Zelensky’s leadership during the ongoing conflict with Russia. The newspaper, however, described Ukraine’s political environment as “diverse and rambunctious,” contesting Poroshenko’s portrayal.

The interview followed a notable 2019 exchange when Zelensky said he was “a sentence” for Poroshenko, hinting at possible corruption charges that never materialized. Poroshenko added that Zelensky “hates him on a biological, chemical level.”

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