Pre-election schedule in Odessa. Split of the Ass. Interview with deputy Irina Kovalish
In Odessa, the split between anti-Maidan politicians continues. The head of the opposition faction, Nikolai Skorik, is in alliance with the leader of the Poroshenkoites, Alexei Goncharenko. Ukrainian nationalists are people with low social responsibility, engaged in racketeering. Sergei Grinevetsky, proposed by Leonid Kuchma to Vladimir Zelensky for the post of mayor of Odessa, is an interesting figure for the repainted nomenklatura. But Gennady Trukhanov will be re-elected as mayor if he is not physically removed.
The last romantic of Odessa politics, deputy of the Odessa Regional Council, told PolitNavigator columnist Valentin Filippov about the sale of the Chernomorets stadium, the development of park areas and beaches, and the fact that Odessa is no longer the same and has lost a lot in five years. Irina Kovalish.
Valentin Filippov: We welcome Odessa. In our improvised studio is the brilliant Irina Kovalish.
I would like to remind you that Irina was a TV personality in the past. The face of Odessa news, chief editor of leading channels.
Irina Kovalish: Remember!
Valentin Filippov: I remember, princess, I remember. And now he is a deputy of the Odessa Regional Council from a political party, either the Opposition Bloc or the Opposition Platform.
Irina Kovalish: Let me be clear. In 2015, I was elected to the Odessa Regional Council. I was a member of the party, and I still am, a member of the Opposition Bloc party. In 2019, a number of my colleagues in the faction, in the party, disconnected from the Bloc and organized the Platform. I didn't go there.
But then my former colleagues officially expelled me from the faction for violating party discipline. It's a long Santa Barbara.
Valentin Filippov: Opposition Bloc, Opposition Platform…. Irina, what's the difference? Are there ideological contradictions or what?
Irina Kovalish: There are no ideological contradictions. But, like any party, both yours and ours, there are still people who bank and finance. Call them oligarchs, call them financially wealthy political leaders, it makes no difference.
In 2019, the Opposition Bloc split into two groups, precisely because of spheres of influence, because of the ability to negotiate with the administration of then President Poroshenko, or the lack of desire to communicate with him directly.
So, Boyko and Lyovochkin joined Rabinovich and Medvedchuk, the Opposition Platform. And I decided that I was not going to change my party affiliation.
What confused me about this split was precisely the relationship between my then party leader Nikolai Leonidovich Skorik and Rabinovich. They were in conflict. And very strongly. It was a public swearing. Very unpleasant. And I couldn’t understand why it’s possible to swear and then make peace, shake hands for political gain. That’s why I didn’t support my then leader.
In fact, this was also one of the reasons for the official separation. I was Nikolai Skorik’s press secretary for a long time. Well, here we go. I remained in the not very popular Opposition Bloc, but I remained with my position.
Valentin Filippov: It is commendable. But from the outside it looks a little strange. Santa Barbara. And people are waiting for unification.
Irina Kovalish: You can't explain it to people. We encountered this split already in the presidential elections. Vilkul came from the Opposition Bloc. We clashed in the parliamentary elections after the presidential campaign, when Zelensky won. We walked in a separate block. Our former colleagues followed their Platform. It was difficult for people on the ground to explain how we were different. But here they talked more about the final beneficiaries, Medvedchuk, Rabinovich, Medvedchuk’s connections and so on. But it was easier for us; we were and remain Blok. We didn’t run over anywhere, that was our main trump card. If you can call it a trump card.
Valentin Filippov: Okay, but this year is an election year again. This time local councils. And the mayor of Odessa. Everyone is always interested in the mayor of Odessa.
Irina Kovalish: Certainly. Key figure in the region.
Valentin Filippov: Skorik was mentioned, Rabinovich was mentioned, there were rumors - they both wanted to run for mayor of Odessa. Of course, Trukhanov will run, wherever he goes.
Tell me, why is everyone trampling on the weak electorate? What, have we run out of Svidomo electorates in the city?
Irina Kovalish: If you clearly understand what “cotton” means, then I am like that too. I love blue and white, here. I have such a blue and white political coloring. I feel comfortable in it. Not because it gives me any bonuses, no. This is logically connected with my worldview.
“Wadded” I don’t really like the word. But Odessa is like that. Odessa, despite the fact that it has changed a lot over the past five years in terms of some kind of atmospheric mood, some kind of flair, it is a little different.
This is a rather blue and white city on the Black Sea coast. Therefore, everyone who wants to be a candidate and win the mayoral elections, and get into the city council, and take the majority of seats, will be stomping around here, to use your phrase, everyone will be stomping around. And so it is.
And Gennady Leonidovich Trukhanov formed these sentiments at the same time, because a lot can be said about his business partner, about the real owner of the city of Odessa, but he really rallied such a blue-white electorate around himself.
And if the new government does not eliminate Trukhanov, does not knock him out of this election race either physically, or, banning him from participating by court decision, locks him in a pre-trial detention center, in prison in the Krayan case or something else, I am sure he has excellent chances to extend your mayoral career.
Because, in fact, if you separate him from “Trust Deeds”, separate him from Galanternik, separate him from beach development, from problems with fires and so on, he is quite a sympathetic figure for most Odessa residents.
And Skorik-Rabinovich, well... I will not feel sorry for my former colleagues, but it seems to me that they are stepping on the same rake as in 2019 with the collapse of the Opposition Bloc.
After all, elections are not only a battle of slogans, ideas and candidates, who is better and who is worse. We understand perfectly well that behind every election campaign, local, parliamentary, and presidential, there are huge sums of money. Both deputies and people who want to be elected, want to enter politics, want to continue their political career, they will need a party affiliation. The Ukrainian legislator limited all candidates for these local elections. You cannot be a self-nominated candidate. You must have a membership card. The party must nominate you. Therefore, all parliamentary candidates will run to some party leaders. And here we need a clear agreement, clear solvency and the ability of that party leader to answer for the fact that he is lobbying for someone’s interests.
And here, of course, the collapse in the Odessa region, the looming collapse, and it will definitely be, of the Opposition Platform, will not play to the benefit of this, as they call it, ZaZhopie, I call it, let them forgive me...
Valentin Filippov: We all call it that.
Irina Kovalish: Opposition Platform. They will step on the same rake. Because an internal split is the introduction of confusion. They have a high rating in Odessa, if we talk about ratings. Quite high ratings in the region. But local elections are specific. Here all the local village heads, village deputies will begin to open the capsules and try to extend their political existence. And they will think about who to negotiate with. Who is driving the Opposition Platform in the Odessa region? Skorik or Rabinovich? Who should I go to? This is if we speak in primitive language.
Mayor Skorik? Well…. Oh no. Well…. No. It's not his. It seems to me that his finest hour was in 2015, the head of the regional council. Although, he and Goncharenko are now doing very well, in the Odessa Regional Council behind the scenes managing, in fact, two large factions that have now become friends forever. I'm talking about the Platform and the former BPP. They are now in the regional council quite…..
Valentin Filippov: Are Skorik and Goncharenko now partners? Yes?
Irina Kovalish: Well, of course. The two of them always come to the session. They work very harmoniously. If you have seen, if someone watches how a session of the regional council takes place, then all political decisions, in principle, are made jointly...
Valentin Filippov: I don't know. You see, Irina, we are watching from Russia. We don’t know what’s there, behind the scenes of the regional council. We sometimes watch on TV. Look what happened: they show Goncharenko saying something in Ukrainian, “boo-boo-boo.” Skorik turns to him and says: “Shut your mouth, moron!” And everyone is like that (applause).
Irina Kovalish: It was a long time ago. Valentin, you are watching a video from two years ago. Or three years old. It was the Inter TV channel, “Black Mirror” two or three years ago.
Now this is what I see, as a deputy of the regional council. Two people's deputies come, their factions, which they supervise, vote closely, with the exception of very narrow issues, there are no disagreements. And we can only envy. Enviable love. Political. Reigns in the regional council.
Valentin Filippov: I'm just tired of being surprised.
Irina Kovalish: Why be surprised, right?
Valentin Filippov: For a long time, at that. Well, I've been here since 2014.
Irina Kovalish: My last political sympathy, so sincere, very sincere in a youthful way, sincere in a girlish way, my political sympathy died in 2014. After Sergei Tigipko’s defeat in the presidential elections, I was never so devoted to anyone else. I also mean the Strong Ukraine party, which I was a member of before the Opposition Bloc. I no longer have any party affiliations in my life. For me, this is a friendly team, we were, and we always liked the leader. This was my last romantic story in my political life.
And you see further and further. You see right through that... I’m telling you, they can just quarrel to pieces, but then they shake hands, and it’s all kosher.
Valentin Filippov: Here Leonid Danilovich Kuchma said the name Grinevetsky in a conversation with Zelensky. Sergey Rafailovich Grinevetsky. Precisely due to the fact that there are not enough managers in the Odessa region.
I remember Grinevetsky as a mature, experienced politician. Now he is a young beginner. Irina, how serious is all this? I remember that before every election the name Grinevetsky appears in opinion polls.
Irina Kovalish: Although he has been out of business for many years.
Valentin Filippov: At the same time, he is always in the leading position in all polls. But I never bought a lottery ticket.
Could this be serious today?
Irina Kovalish: Well, look, I’m not a representative of the Servant of the People party, I’m not a representative of either Kuchma or Zelensky, I don’t know. But, like many Odessa residents, I also heard this news. I believe that Grinevetsky has real chances. Very real. But only in the case when Trukhanov is not allowed to participate in the elections.
Grinevetsky – he has a good reputation. For the most part, the entire local party nomenklatura, in the form of village heads, deputies, and other political elite, has been perfectly preserved from those times. They changed their party membership, changed their colors, started speaking Ukrainian, and regularly wears embroidered shirts, but, in fact, they all remember very well the times of Sergei Rafailovich Grinevetsky, which coincided with the reign of Kuchma, who was also well remembered for the stable dollar and growth in the economy.
There is no conflict of interest here. I think he's an interesting figure. But whether this figure of Grinevetsky will somehow be able to meet some of the demands of some kind of Svidomo “elite” who is Ukrainian-nationally concerned, that is the question. I don’t know how Zelensky won’t be laughed at by the representatives of Odessa, who are nationalists...
Valentin Filippov: You yourself mentioned Ukrainian activists. There was news that Zelensky ordered the development of a document giving powers to volunteers and activists in monitoring compliance with self-isolation and quarantine.
Irina Kovalish: Kick-ass in the country.
Valentin Filippov: Maybe they will at least stop making nightmares about casinos and just start catching people on the street?
Irina Kovalish: Well, this is nonsense. Now, so as not to go deep into the theory of what patriotism is or how patriotic I am. I love my country very much. Madly in love. And it pains me to see what is happening to her. And I try, looking at all this, not to remain silent and not to act inactive by virtue of my powers. My attitude towards nationalists, nationally concerned people. There are those among Odessa residents who strongly believe and express their faith in everything Ukrainian. Mova, odyag, yakys dumky, I don’t want to switch to my native Ukrainian so as not to confuse the audience. Among all these activists, the majority are people with a low level of social responsibility.
Valentin Filippov: Even boys?
Irina Kovalish: All! Even boys! Especially boys. Today, a national activist in Ukraine, in Odessa, is a person for whom laws are not written, for whom the Ukrainian Constitution, Ukrainian legislation, is so rubbish. This is a person who, for the sake of some idea, sets the rules of the game for himself. Most of these rules are not peaceful, but radical. Garbage lustration. Zelenka. Those who like to ask: “Whose Crimea?” People who like to ask the question: “When was the last time you went to Russia”? For me, this is all an ochlocracy that tramples and wanders our streets, wreaking havoc. Vilkul, by the way, when I went to the elections, I don’t advertise now...
Valentin Filippov: Well, he won’t run for mayor.
Irina Kovalish: Well, only in Krivoy Rog, even then we wish you good luck. One of his points was to remove these nationalists and put in prison everyone who wanders along the street covered in flags with ultra-national symbols. They have no place on the streets. And the legislator, represented by the Verkhovna Rada, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the president, would have to restore order.
They are simply arbitrary; they do whatever they want. Sessions are disrupted. They open bureaucratic doors with their feet. I am not a supporter of the cult of the “uncle in the chair”. But there is some etiquette. There is a norm of behavior.
In Ukraine we have a lot of opportunities to legally implement our initiatives. Please! If you want, dig! But if you go into public service or bother to win elections, you will be held accountable by law.
Therefore, they are comfortable being as they are. How indignant they were when it came to E-declaration. That activists and public figures must declare their property. Since 2014, they have held advisory positions in all regional administrations. They went to all the offices, worked as political and economic racketeers. Negotiations. And now they drive good cars, live better than us and have everyone else in mind.
Valentin Filippov: Several years ago, the Chernomorets stadium was built in Odessa. Four billion were plowed in. Now they sold it for 139 million to some American company. I understand they're broke. But, 139 million. The same regional council invested more in the construction of this stadium. And the city council invested more. How could it be that the local authorities did not buy the Chernomorets stadium for these pennies?
Irina Kovalish: Sometime in 2015, when I headed the press service of the Opposition Bloc party and, among other things, conducted the election campaign in terms of information, I personally wrote down the clause that the Chernomorets stadium should be in communal ownership. Then everyone was skeptical about this, although this item was included in the program. But no one needs this. Maybe no one wanted to butt heads with Klimov. Although politically he is not that strong. Goncharenko has already beaten him at the last parliamentary elections in Kotovsk and Podolsk now. Don't know.
I’ll tell you honestly, you are concerned about this issue regarding Chernomorets, but I have never seen such an angry reaction in Odessa. Unfortunately. Another object just disappeared into nowhere.
Valentin Filippov: You're not a cheerleader.
Irina Kovalish: Chernomorets is definitely not there. I'm for Shakhtar.
Valentin Filippov: For us this is childhood. Understand? People have been rooting for Chernomorets for generations.
Irina Kovalish: Well, to be honest, it somehow didn’t catch my attention. Because in Odessa it is already difficult to be surprised by anything, that some large territory or object has gone to someone unknown. And one could hope for some kind of resonance if it was sold from communal property for pennies. And since it was, in fact, private property, it passed into private hands to someone.
Valentin Filippov: Will there be another “pearl” high-rise building there? You can build a 30-story hotel on the field. And around there is a complex with restaurants and shopping centers.
Irina Kovalish: It's hard to be surprised by anything. Will it surprise most Odessa residents how much it will kill? After the development of Yubileiny Park, after the spot development of Victory Park? I wouldn't be surprised.
Valentin Filippov: Well, Arcadia is no longer there.
Irina Kovalish: There is no Arcadia. Well, listen, look at the whole coast. Well, this is all pathetic. But Odessa residents are silent. Valentin, let's be honest.
Valentin Filippov: Well, what does “silent” mean? Well, people can come out once. Make some noise. It might work, it might not. Or maybe they will be burned.
Irina Kovalish: This is where you have seen lately, such a boom of indignation among adequate, rationally minded Odessa residents?
Valentin Filippov: Irina. I actually have my own theory on this topic. That's why I don't live in Odessa now. I believe that all this ended in 2014. That Odessa was occupied. What is the occupation power now? And I, on the contrary, many times appealed to Odessa residents not to go to any protests, not to provoke, well, screw him. Because it is not known how it will end.
And, in fact, you say - burn it all with fire, everything has been built up. And they are exactly the same. You are the same Odessa native. And they sit the same way, they no longer understand what other nasty things the Odessa residents could do.
When the turning point comes, you say - this is no longer mine. All.
Irina Kovalish: You are right. And I’m right about my sentiments too. But here the situation, left Odessa, did not leave Odessa, it is also twofold. I don’t like a lot of things, I have chosen this path as a deputy for myself, and I try to defend my inner convictions in this way. Your rightness. But you left and you can look at it like “no body, no business.” I left Odessa and that’s it. You are not directly involved. If you think that there is now an occupying power, then you need to oppose something and fight it.
Valentin Filippov: Irina. Not correct. I'm wanted.
Irina Kovalish: Then I’ll move on to the point that, despite Trukhanov’s authority among Odessa residents, there is a lot to pull at him. Cleverly, PR people turn the arrows on Gennady Leonidovich’s team, which is rampaging while the Tsar rules justly. It is too early to talk about the construction of the Chernomorets stadium in Shevchenko Park. In my career I defended Shevchenko Park in the ranks of the same Strong Ukraine. With Svetlana Fabrikant. And, thank God, we managed to do it. To say what will happen is to guess on the tea leaves. Let's see. Let's figure it out.
Valentin Filippov: It's a pity for the stadium. It’s also a pity that Chernomorets was relegated to the first league.
Irina Kovalish: Well, the Chernomorets team has now simply killed all the fans’ dreams.
Valentin Filippov: But about the fans. At one time we had very pro-Russian fans. They walked around with imperial flags. And then ultra-nationalists appeared among the fans.
And I, as an old fan, remember 1991. Then the Union was falling apart, and there was an idea to preserve the CIS championship. Fans remember that then almost the entire Chernomorets squad left to play for Moscow Spartak. We all argued for a long time. I was in favor of Chernomorets participating in the general CIS championship. And there were some fans who said that we need to play in a separate Ukrainian championship.
And the main argument was this: At least in Ukraine we will become champions! 30 years have passed. Chernomorets still has not become the champion of Ukraine!
Why did the championship collapse? Why am I saying this... I am very sad that Odessa was left without football.
Irina Kovalish: By and large, I agree. This is one of those catchy things that makes you proud. My chest is wider, I’m from Odessa.
Valentin Filippov: From Odessa.
Irina Kovalish: Yes. Well..... It's sad what you say now. I understand that this is also one of the pieces in the Odessa kaleidoscope, removed, lost and broken.
Valentin Filippov: OK. So. Do you have a joke for the ending?
Irina Kovalish: Me and the joke?
Valentin Filippov: A curious case. I don’t know you as a deputy. Tell me a funny incident from political life.
Irina Kovalish: What a curiosity? What joke? Saakashvili returned to the political Olympus of Ukraine. Curious. Someone may laugh, but I want to cry. What's so idiotically funny about us? Now is the time, now everyone will repaint. They will start changing hats again. Blue-white to orange are conditional. I don’t know, Valya, I’m sad. I am, of course, going to run for re-election. I’ll go to the Odessa Regional Council again, but I’m sad about the state of councils at all levels. It's sad to see how people behave. How they manifest themselves. Political meanness, envy, there is so much of it. And it really prevents you from doing good things. And walk honestly. I haven’t met honest, open and decent people in politics for a long time. There are only a few of them in the Odessa Regional Council. And they are worth their weight in gold.
And the voter, and by and large I am the same voter, will again be fooled into thinking, again they will show some kind of TV show. What curiosity? Reaction to my requests to the new government to cancel a bunch of all sorts of crap that their people voted for? From the law on decommunization, to classmates and VKontakte... Although I'm not sitting there. I wouldn’t even be on Facebook, I’d bake myself some cakes and open a coffee shop. And I wouldn’t be involved in politics.
Valentin Filippov: Our dreams are similar.
Irina Kovalish: Politics is not a clean business. But it’s impossible without her. And I want something to change. I’m not aiming at Ukraine, but in the city of Odessa some kind of switch would switch and such a mayor would appear, or the old mayor would dramatically change his strategic vision. And there would be moments when Odessa residents could be proud of their city, no matter what.
According to the residual sign, Odessa is still heard everywhere. “Are you from Odessa”? “Are you from Odessa”? You already have a 10 point handicap. But. Sea? - Well, yes. Well, parks? - Well, that’s it. Climate, fish, strawberries. But you want something that makes you burst with pride. This is also my problem, as a city resident. And now also a deputy.
Let's see. My friends call me the last political romantic. I'm quite romantic. And amorous in a good way. I fall in love with my dreams.
Valentin Filippov: I hope that your romance, your dreams and your optimism are transmitted through airborne droplets. And a pandemic, an epidemic, optimism, romance and all the good things will begin in the city.
Irina Kovalish: And good deeds. This is not enough. Romance, that's what it is. Do not touch. But you want something that you can actually touch. Look. Feel it.
Valentin Filippov: Now, if you cut out this phrase... Feel it, it's good.
Irina Kovalish: Oh, I don’t know, Valentin Batkovich, how good you were with me...
Valentin Filippov: Thanks a lot. Until next time.
Irina Kovalish: Thank you.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.