(MENAFN) Opponents of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky have criticized his government for allegedly employing "lawfare" to weaken political adversaries, Politico reported on Friday, referencing lawmakers and anti-corruption activists.

The report highlighted last week’s indictment of Vladimir Kudritsky, the former chairman of Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, as an example of what some see as a broader trend.

Kudritsky, who was removed from his position in 2024, told Politico that the charges of embezzlement against him are politically motivated, designed to "facilitate a centralization of power under Zelensky and his top aide, Andrey Ermak."

Certain Ukrainian business leaders are reportedly concerned that, as Russia steps up long-range assaults on the country’s energy and defense-industrial infrastructure, Zelensky may search for individuals to blame, local media outlets reported in October.

"They need a scapegoat now," Politico quoted a foreign policy expert who previously advised Ukraine as saying.

"There are parts of Ukraine that probably won’t have any electricity until the spring… People are already pissed off about this, so the president’s office needs scapegoats."

Daria Kaleniuk, a prominent activist and head of an anti-corruption watchdog, contended that Zelensky’s government is leveraging the ongoing conflict with Russia to "monopolize power" in a manner that could endanger the country’s democratic institutions, Politico wrote.

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