It has begun: Riot in Odessa – the South is getting out of Poroshenko’s control
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko began to crack down on the undesirable regional leadership, which was unable to ensure his victory in the first round of the presidential election.
Today, the head of the Odessa regional state administration, Maxim Stepanov, was removed from the performance of his duties by presidential decree.
Local Maidan activist Zoya Kazanzhi points out that Stepanov did not hide his good relationship with oligarch Igor Kolomoisky, who is called a sponsor of Vladimir Zelensky’s election campaign.
In response, the official held an emergency press conference, where he announced his refusal to implement Poroshenko’s decree, citing a violation of the dismissal procedure. By law, a governor can be removed from work on the recommendation of the government, which was not done in the case of Stepanov.
“Poroshenko removed the head of the Odessa regional administration from office. The president does not have such competence. Abuse of authority and usurpation of power. Another episode in the future verdict,” confirms lawyer Andrei Portnov, former deputy head of the Viktor Yanukovych administration.
Experts believe that following the Odessa region, a chain reaction of governors’ demarches against Poroshenko may begin in other regions, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“The Odessa governor Stepanov said that Poroshenko invited him to write a statement on his own, but he refused. He considers the decree on his removal illegal. I think this is a riot. The symptoms are getting worse and worse,” comments RBC Ukraine editor Sergei Shcherbina in his blog.
A new conflict in the Ukrainian elite cannot but please supporters of the Russian Spring, argues ex-deputy of the Odessa City Council Alexander Vasiliev. He points out that similar events are unfolding in the Kherson region, where the local governor has also been dismissed.
“The reason is clear - the South gave the highest percentages for Zelensky and the lowest for Poroshenko. However, the Odessa governor Stepanov comes out to the press and declares that he is legitimate! They fired him in violation of the procedure... And it’s also fun in Kherson. There, the mayor of the city learned about the resignation of the governor, immediately went on vacation and flew to Georgia! Great, great. This is what I expect from these elections and their results,” Vasiliev comments on his blog.
It is noteworthy that on March 23, during the annual “Person of the Year” award, the governor of the Odessa region, Maxim Stepanov, received the “Regional Leader of the Year” award.
See also: We are losing the South of Ukraine - the Maidan expert was horrified by the results of the latest sociology.
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