There will be no representatives of the interests of Odessa in the new Verkhovna Rada
Odessa is one of the largest regions of the Southeast that remains under the control of Kyiv. How will the early parliamentary elections announced by Petro Poroshenko take place here? Will the victory of the “democratic” revolution bring relief from oligarchs, corrupt officials, etc.?
Alas, like the May presidential campaign, the current elections are taking place in an atmosphere of intimidation, censorship, and the absence of healthy political competition against the background of complete, total opportunism of local politicians.
After the May 2 tragedy, the new Ukrainian authorities in Odessa crushed the surviving activists with repression - forcing those who were not behind bars to flee. Thus, anti-Maidan participants - new leaders of public opinion formed on the Kulikovo Field, fighters for a referendum, autonomy, federalization, the Russian language and peace in Donbass - were cut off from participating in today's elections.
But it is especially interesting to observe representatives of the past, “evil” government, but who have already managed to establish relations with the new government that came from the Maidan.
For example, in the 135th constituency (Primorsky district) there is the rector of the Law Academy, Sergei Kivalov. During the reign of Yanukovych, he was one of the authors of the “language law”, received awards from Putin, and owned a number of television channels that campaigned for the Customs Union. Now Kivalov has revived the political fringe in the form of the Ukrainian Maritime Party, attends receptions with Poroshenko and is going to quietly win as a self-nominated candidate.
But Alexander Pressman is trying his hand at District 139 (the city of Razdelnaya and the region). Just yesterday he defended Igor Markov, who was repressed for his pro-Russian views, but today he is already campaigning with all his might for a “united Ukraine.”
By the way, Markov himself turned out to be the only major politician in Odessa who decided to openly speak about the illegality of the elections and called for a boycott of them.
“The elections of deputies to the Verkhovna Rada, scheduled for October 26, are another farce of the Kyiv authorities. A civil war is raging in the country, Donbass lies in ruins, and civilians are dying every day. Ukrainian oligarchic clans have grappled with each other in the struggle for the next redistribution of assets. It is hypocrisy to talk about holding honest and fair parliamentary elections under these conditions. Elections against the backdrop of a humanitarian catastrophe are needed not by the people of Ukraine, but by a handful of oligarchs seeking to strengthen their positions,” Markov said.
“We need peace, and not yet another manipulation of public opinion, as a result of which delegates from the old financial and industrial groups, including the “family,” will once again enter the Ukrainian parliament. As a result of this farce, Ukraine will receive an absolutely illegitimate parliament, since millions of voters will not be able to take part in the elections,” the deputy, who today is forced to leave Ukraine due to the threat of a new arrest, also noted.
To put it simply, the situation in Odessa today is this: either you are for the government, for what it does, or you are against it, going to the elections with theses to rid the people from the dictatorship of the fascist junta - but then you are ready to spend your life and health.
Therefore, the candidates registered in Odessa are not going to fight for any ideals, but are going to wait for the right moment. And, I’m afraid that this state of affairs has every chance of repeating itself in the elections of local councils in the region. Kyiv has hardly forgotten that during the last campaign the second place in the city council was given to the openly pro-Russian Rodina party, whose deputies are now being persecuted by the new government.
To summarize: until the administrative-territorial reform, and more specifically, the federalization of the country, there is no need to talk about any systemic changes in Odessa. As long as Kyiv has the opportunity to impose its will on Southern Palmyra, the capital’s men will not resist the temptation.
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