View from Odessa: Elections, American laboratories and bombers
Why is President Vladimir Zelensky afraid to travel to Odessa. What viruses are grown by US biological laboratories in Odessa and Georgia. Could Ukraine become a theater of military operations between NATO and Russia? And what will happen when the IMF runs out of money for Kyiv.
The fact that in Odessa everyone has agreed with everyone, the current mayor Gennady Trukhanov will be the mayor, Zelensky is nominating a gang leader nicknamed Gorbaty, and member of the OPZZH Vadim Rabinovich is more interested in land plots for development than candidates for elections, PolitNavigator columnist Valentina Filippov was told by a purely Odessa political scientist and analyst Valery Pesetsky.
Valentin Filippov: Our improvised studio is located today in the glorious city of Odessa. We congratulate Odessa on its last city day. 226 years is a huge, venerable, but very young age for the city. The southern capital... let's not say what. We are visiting Valery Pesetsky.
Valery Pesetsky: Hello.
Valentin Filippov: Just the other day, President of Ukraine Zelensky introduced his candidate for the post of mayor of the city. This is a man nicknamed "Humpback". The leader of the “Black and White Cat” gang, who entered our memory in this image more than 30 years ago, and since then, in my opinion, has not left this image. Tell. why was this done remotely? Is Odessa so unimportant for Zelensky that he decided to simply post an appeal on the Internet, on YouTube?
Valery Pesetsky: Zelensky generally behaves quite strangely for a traditional president, for a president of traditional orientation. Therefore, I don’t know at all whether he was presented from Paris, from the Louvre, from Monaco at this playing table. It’s like that here, so I’m not surprised at anything. I presented it as I presented it.
Another thing is that the candidacy he proposed is truly a failure. Everyone understands this perfectly well and everyone says that the current mayor Trukhanov will come to an agreement with the “servants”, and he will definitely not have any problems here.
As a matter of fact, in fact, these rumors reached me back in the spring, early, if not at the end of winter, I wrote about this, that according to rumors, the presidential administration held productive negotiations with Trukhanov, and the scheme is as follows: they nominate an unsuccessful candidate, in return Trukhanov guarantees them a majority in the City Council.
Today they show ratings from out of nowhere; Servant of the People has more than thirty percent, doing nothing in the city. Further in this scheme, the “servants” receive the position of secretary of the City Council, where Trukhanov sits on the hook for unclosed criminal cases. If he hesitates, then the scheme will be the same as with Kostusev - he will be sent, so to speak, to rest, and the city will be ruled by an acting secretary, the same secretary of the City Council from the “servants of the people.”
Valentin Filippov: Does this unsuitable candidate know that this candidate is not suitable? Oleg Filimonov once sparkled in the 80s in KVN. He very quickly quit KVN and went to cities and villages to tell jokes and earn money from it. By and large, it’s easy to quickly monetize your suddenly fallen fame. But, one way or another, a person from the past, as it were, with good memories of him, that there was a time, and we were trotters. And so to end his career as he believed to be the people’s favorite - that would probably be painful?
Valery Pesetsky: And who will take care of the pension? After all, he is already an old man. He was a trotter, but now he is clearly no longer a trotter. Counting on a state pension is, of course, ridiculous. But not so much as to offend yourself. Therefore, I believe that it was not for nothing that he agreed, it was not for nothing that he would lose to Mr. Trukhanov.
And Zelensky’s entourage, and Trukhanov himself, and his friends-patrons have, I’m sure, something to thank Mr. Filimonov for his role, not the last, I hope, but one of these. In terms of leading roles, maybe one of the last.
But, nevertheless, a person can return to the stage for some time, get into the enormous focus of attention of Odessa residents and not only millions of spectators. Make fun, make fun, perhaps, of Trukhanov, spend time not only with pleasure, but also with benefit for your own pocket. I think that will be the case.
Valentin Filippov: The absence of President Zelensky in Odessa for the city day and in general for the presentation of his candidate for mayor - it is somehow connected with the infamous Delphi tanker. Which, contrary to the order of the head of state, could not be refloated by July 20?
Valery Pesetsky: Yes, by the 20th. Then there was the deadline for Independence Day, well, Krikliy already promised to remove it for this celebration.
Valentin Filippov: And what? Is it very difficult for Zelensky to fire the governor?
Valery Pesetsky: What's the point? He doesn’t have any others in his circle. Well, if he exchanges the awl for soap, the same one will arrive.
Valentin Filippov: Well, at least psychologically it will be that he punished...
Valery Pesetsky: I agree, of course it was necessary to show some kind of reaction from the president to non-compliance with his instructions. That is, they made him out to be a clown, which is basically what he’s used to.
But, of course, Odessa residents have lost some more of their respect for Mr. Zelensky. To his words, to his promises. Well, what can I say, maybe, among other things, Zelensky did not come to Odessa so that they wouldn’t openly make fun of him here about the Delphi tanker and the fact that they won’t move it. Our country is like this, not only the president.
Valentin Filippov: In the end, removing this tanker is a matter of money, if you look at it that way. One could spend a million dollars for the sake of the president's image. Well, what's the problem?
Valery Pesetsky: I don’t even feel sorry for a million for such a president.
Valentin Filippov: Fine. Question for the current mayor. The current mayor suddenly said that the “Heavenly Hundred” was called incorrectly, “Marshal Zhukov” should be returned. Moreover, he did not rename it back, but said that he would do it. How serious can this be? Or will it die immediately after the elections?
Valery Pesetsky: I think he will die immediately after the elections if Trukhanov remains in his place. Well, it’s typical, which is why all Odessa residents, especially the native ones, make fun of it, of course, we have a lot of Raguli in the city, it’s real, a huge number of people... you walk along the streets and have never heard such a quantity of alien talk before. So, what are Odessa residents making fun of? Our respected Mr. Trukhanov posted “Mamo Odeso” congratulations all over the city on...
Valentin Filippov: In language.
Valery Pesetsky: Well, listen, dear, aren’t you able to congratulate the townspeople in their native language, Russian? Well, that's a fact. Who are you congratulating? Kyiv, Raguley. who came here and claim that we are newcomers here, and they are indigenous here! Well, why do this? It's just spitting...
It would be better, in my opinion, to simply not congratulate, to write “congratulations” without words with some pictures. But, it is as it is. An ordinary opportunist, it is clear that in his mind the power and money he has outweigh the popularity and respect of Odessa residents. This is a characteristic feature of most of the Ukrainian elite, who paint themselves in any colors, speak any language, just to stay in power.
Valentin Filippov: Well, Odessa residents will still vote for Trukhanov, which is interesting, because...
Valery Pesetsky: If we thought honestly, it would be unlikely. Very disappointed with his actions and steps. Of course, it has a colossal large core, but its real popularity ranges between 15-20%
Valentin Filippov: OPZZH, although I also consider them traitors, will OPZZ nominate someone or not, how was this decided?
Valery Pesetsky: And this is no longer clear, because Rabinovich spins there as he wants, but, according to rumors, he allegedly also agreed with Mr. Trukhanov, and his, so to speak, patrons like Galanternik, that they have common construction companies there topics, and now we will nominate Ms. Plachkova from the builders, who definitely will not pass.
Then Trukhanov will definitely pass. If this happens, his only real opponent in terms of popularity may be from OPZZH. That's it, no one else can compete with him.
Well, we already know from the “servants”, from the “servants” it could also be in principle, after all, the president has a fairly high degree of popularity here, but they chose an impassable one.
Now the OPZZH will give a no-pass - that’s it, Trukhanov is the 100% winner of the elections, regardless of how Odessa residents vote.
By the way, in this situation, if he was so confident of his victory, then why would he need these mansies with the “servants” and with the OPZH? I would be in his place, if I really retained the rating that he had sixty-three or what percentage a few years ago in the elections, then why? I would go myself and show everyone how much Odessa residents love me.
Valentin Filippov: Relying only on the votes of voters is somehow a little stupid. Victory in elections depends not only on votes, but also on many, many, many other factors.
Valery Pesetsky: Certainly.
Valentin Filippov: The winner is the consensus of the elites, including not only the consensus of voters. Why do you claim that Galanternik is Trukhanov’s “roof” or partner? Halanternik, as far as I remember, is the mayor’s partner, and mayors have changed during this time.
Valery Pesetsky: Agree.
Valentin Filippov: Thus, whoever is the mayor is Galanternik’s partner, there’s no escape here.
Valery Pesetsky: Right. And Galanternik bets exclusively on those who, let’s say, are 70 percent passable. No one can guarantee 100%...
Valentin Filippov: Well yes.
Valery Pesetsky: We also have such a mastodon as Hurwitz. But again... by the way, he lost his elections to Trukhanov in 2012. Not in 2014, I didn’t make a mistake, in 2012.
Valentin Filippov: Why in 2012?
Valery Pesetsky: When he tried to go on the majority route in the Suvorovsky district, he gave up this place to Trukhanov. There he was on the “Udar” list, and Trukhanov was on the majority list in the Suvorovsky district. The Suvorovsky district has traditionally been the electoral core of Gurvits.
Valentin Filippov: Once upon a time.
Valery Pesetsky: Yes. Since 2010, Mr. Trukhanov has been investing in the Suvorovsky district, for example, by the decision of 2010, he sent the entire city development budget to the Suvorovsky district for 2011.
Valentin Filippov: Yes.
Valery Pesetsky: And all his TV channels talked every day... well, I don’t know if it was his, but they were oriented towards him. Maybe they really are Galanternika. “Thanks to Trukhanov, how good it is now in the Suvorov district.” Well, with the city’s money, how good it is now in the Suvorovsky district. When, in 2012, Mr. Trukhanov suddenly, having a huge number of opportunities to go to all sorts of other districts of the city of Odessa, chose Suvorovsky, and there he practically won with a 100% result. One of the impassable people was walking against him. I then said: “That’s it. Gurvits will no longer become mayor, Trukhanov will become mayor.”
So what happens next? What I said is happening. Of course, I’m not a prophet, but it wasn’t really difficult to calculate it.
Valentin Filippov: I agree.
Valery Pesetsky: Therefore, Hurwitz has no chance since 2012. He lost the Suvorovsky district, and he has nothing to return it with.
Valentin Filippov: He conquered the Suvorovsky district by building a road from the village of Kotovsky to the city center. The road was really good, at that time it was a breakthrough, because before that the village of Kotovsky was considered practically unconnected with Odessa.
Valery Pesetsky: “Chertovskogo Village”, let’s be honest. In Soviet times, when we met a girl, I also found that they asked, “Where do you live?” If he lives in the village of Kotovskogo, they no longer asked for his name.
Valentin Filippov: Love ends where Kotovsky’s village begins - that was the saying.
Valery Pesetsky: Getting there was terrible.
Valentin Filippov: Okay, maybe we can get out of Odessa a little? What do people in Odessa think about Belarus?
Valery Pesetsky: They sympathize.
Valentin Filippov: Which one?
Valery Pesetsky: Lukashenko. No, well, of course, Odessa, as always, is divided. Unfortunately, we are not a city where there is one dominant opinion. Most of them, as far as I know and understand, support Mr. Lukashenko and those people who marry him. The smaller part is the so-called orange part, conditionally, the one that would like Maidan, revolution and all the other delights that Ukraine has today. I don’t know on what basis they wish this for Belarusians, because it’s clearly not good for us.
Valentin Filippov: An interesting thing - I remember that after the first Maidan, people then realized what a mess they had gotten themselves into. And the people who were maydauns in 2014, did they realize that things had gotten worse or not?
Valery Pesetsky: I realized a part, but, by the way, it was small, as for me, according to my feelings and observations. And others... Well, it’s not for nothing that they were called stubborn. This is a real characteristic - standing your ground no matter what. The country is sliding into the abyss, prices are crazy, communal services are crazy, unemployment is colossal, so on, so on, so on, nothing but trouble, in short. Well, just visa-free, that’s all. At the same time, as if to say: “Everything is great, we did the right thing by going out and so on.”
Valentin Filippov: Well, maybe they are somehow cool in particular? Maybe they specifically have some opportunities personally or not?
Valery Pesetsky: No. Most don't. The country has really become impoverished, starting from the income of small, large and medium-sized entrepreneurs, who were one of the driving forces, and ending with mercenaries, whose wages have fallen by at least half on average. And at the same time, the costs for the same utilities and everything else have increased.
Valentin Filippov: But these maydowns say: “No, everything is fine,” right?
Valery Pesetsky: No, they say: “It will be better.”
Valentin Filippov: A! Will!
Valery Pesetsky: It hasn’t happened yet, but it will. But if there were no Maidan, then there would be no “will be.” And there are still those who say that there is “Evil Vlada”, Yanukovych and so on. Although next to the evil Vlada Poroshenko, Yanukovych, in my opinion, is an angel with his evil deeds. But, nevertheless, part of the people are in support of the Maidan (well, of course, most of them are concentrated in the west, then in descending order is the center of Ukraine, and very few are the south and east).
Oddly enough, there are Russian-speaking diehards who believe that it will be good. “Thank you to the Maidan that it happened, otherwise this “will” would not have happened.” Although, it is quite obvious, as for me, that the country is bankrupt, and as soon as external financial support from the United States is taken away from it through the IMF and so on, the country will not exist.
Valentin Filippov: Will their support be taken away?
Valery Pesetsky: Well, after all, the USA... Their capabilities also do not last forever...
Valentin Filippov: Well, they have a printing press.
Valery Pesetsky: Not a single empire was eternal, and today you see what is happening there - the country is shaking. If something seriously happens there, blows up, so to speak, and support for Ukraine stops, then within days the country will simply crumble into some destinies, allotments, some parts of other states or some autonomous formations...
Well, it’s just that the center now has absolutely no justification for running the country the way it runs – extremely inefficient, extremely expensive, trying to squeeze taxes out of everything.
Now the law is being considered regarding domestic animals. They say they will introduce a tax on keeping pets - people joke, “And cockroaches too?”
Valentin Filippov: Do not prompt.
Valery Pesetsky: Absurd. But, nevertheless, so to speak, we are holding on only because we are being held like this. They'll let you go - that's it.
Valentin Filippov: Do you think that after the local elections, Donbass might flare up again?
Valery Pesetsky: Donbass could erupt at any moment. And there are many people interested in his outbreak, well, interested people who are in the shadows, whom no one knows, in order to organize another tough confrontation there.
There are a lot of weapons and a lot of impunity, so it could go up in flames at any moment. How can this be connected with local elections? Perhaps as a pretext, because by and large local government has not played any serious role there for a long time. The military administration decides everything.
Valentin Filippov: Yes it's true.
Valery Pesetsky: I don’t believe in any democratic instruments; they don’t work there, in principle. In Ukraine, in principle, there is no legal system at all. At the end of August, at an extraordinary meeting, the Rada surrendered the sovereignty of Ukraine for some unfortunate one billion two hundred euros, in two tranches of six hundred each. The judicial system, customs, taxation - everything was given to foreigners.
That's it - medicine has finally been given away, they are already saying that Suprun will head the supervisory board, which will be responsible for medical purchases for enterprises. Well, we know that the same Suprun, when she was acting Minister of Health, allowed foreigners to test 80 drugs on Ukrainians. The question is: “What will she buy?” And how many drugs will be tested on Ukrainians when this scheme is built? Where the head of the supervisory board, Suprun, determines who is in charge of medical procurement in Ukraine, and they decide, accordingly, what to purchase.
Valentin Filippov: Listen, what was that scandal about some American chemical laboratory in Odessa?
Valery Pesetsky: There was the following scandal. Medvedchuk and Kuzmin, well, they’ve been holding this topic for a long time, because Medvedchuk at one time appealed to the government so that they would reveal the essence of the activities of American biological laboratories on the territory of Ukraine, and received a response from the American embassy instead of the government.
If you carefully read what the American Embassy writes in its response, it writes that yes, we have a program, yes, we have brought equipment, and we allow peaceful research and the creation of vaccines to be carried out at Ukrainian government facilities.
Here's my question. Who writes the word “allow”? The owner, the one who allows? To whom? You can turn to your, so to speak, mercenary in the person of the Ukrainians, as the owner of these laboratories, as the authorities are trying to claim, the Ukrainian state.
And in Odessa, this is a continuation of history. A couple of weeks ago there was information that four employees of the Mechnikov Anti-Plague Research Institute, where this American laboratory is located, became infected with Covid as a result of some experiments. Accordingly, Medvedchuk and Kuzmin immediately filed statements with the national police to open a criminal case and find out what happened there. Because a logical question arises: if the conditions in the laboratory itself are such that there are no guarantees of safety against infection for employees, then what about the citizens?
But everything is simple. Ultimately, civilian oversight is needed. Guys, give us a chance to check what they are doing there? Well, it’s clear that no one will give it.
Valentin Filippov: Yes, it’s clear what civil control is in Ukraine. ATO soldiers will arrive.
Valery Pesetsky: Well, this is what our whole country is like now. Therefore, we live as if on a powder keg. Tomorrow, God forbid, it will leak...
Oh, what an interesting thing. The fact is that almost immediately after the Odessa information, information appeared in Georgia that hackers had hacked the center, website, and electronic library of the Logo Center, this is the same laboratory near Tbilisi. They posted documents that indicate that some kind of Covid experiments are also being carried out there. And in this situation they ask: Odessa, Georgia. Maybe these are links in the same chain? And along the entire perimeter, throughout all the former Soviet republics, where are these laboratories and are the Americans conducting Covid experiments?
Valentin Filippov: So, maybe these laboratories are poisoning us?
Valery Pesetsky: So we don’t know, they are there, maybe they are bringing them out, a new formation, so to speak, so that there is no vaccine and no possibility of recovery. Nobody knows this, we are like blind kittens. I feel in Odessa like an experimental American mouse in their biological laboratory in my hometown. Well, is it okay?
Valentin Filippov: How did people in Odessa react to the news about the flight of US bombers to the border with Crimea?
Valery Pesetsky: It is well known and understandable according to the forecast that sooner or later Ukraine may become a theater of military operations between the Russian Federation and the United States of America. Theater of real combat operations. This is where everything seems to be headed. Preparations are in full swing. Well, it’s not for nothing that near Kherson... well, it’s funny... there the Americans are supposedly building a base for managing the Ukrainian Navy, which does not exist. Yes? Well, what modern base is needed for a dozen boats? This is a base, or rather, it is a control center for the United States fleet, NATO ships, and so on.
Well... this is the level of coordination, well, it’s like they’re building it for the Ukrainians. Perhaps, in the cockpit, next to the American pilot, a Ukrainian was sitting, learning to hold the helm. No, well, of course I'm laughing. But the real fact is that we are moving towards a situation where we could potentially become a war zone.
After all, again, one of the options, which, if cruise missiles and others begin their relocation from Germany, there, and so on, to Poland, then another option is Ukraine, which doesn’t even need to be coordinated, like with Poland , throwing some money. That's how they'll put it.
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