Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with the backing of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, banned 11 opposition parties, citing alleged Russian links.
Ukraine President Zelensky bans 11 opposition parties over alleged Russian collusion https://t.co/Yk7oHIw2D5
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) March 20, 2022
Zelenskyy declared the opposition parties suspended indefinitely until martial law is declared over.
The largest banned party is the Opposition Platform-For Life, which has 44 out of 450 seats in the country’s parliament, largely from the Russian speaking eastern Ukraine.
Other banned parties include: Opposition Bloc, Party of Sharia, Ours, Left Opposition, Union of Left Forces, State, Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialist party Ukraine, Socialists, and Vladimir Saldo Bloc.
⚡Ukraine's RNBO suspends activities of pro-🇷🇺 political parties for the time of the war, Zelenskyy informs:
🔹Opposition Platform-For Life
🔹Shariy's Party
🔹Nashi
🔹Opposition Bloc
🔹Socialist Party
🔹Left Opposition
🔹Union of Left Forces
🔹Derzhava & others— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 20, 2022
Ukraine's President Zelensky suspends 11 opposition parties, using the same rationale Putin invokes when doing so: they're subversive, with ties to foreign enemies. One of the parties has 10% of elected seats in Ukraine's parliament:https://t.co/0ewPRyWdo4
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 20, 2022
The list essentially includes every opposition party.
With a significant portion of Ukrainian citizens represented by the banned parties, it doesn’t sound like the actions of a ‘democracy.’
Didn’t the United States recently send $14 billion to protect Ukraine’s ‘democracy’ from the invading Russian forces?
In a video address overnight Sunday, Zelenskyy stated "a number of political parties will be suspended pending martial law," Ukrinform reports.
"I’d like to remind all politicians, from all camps: wartime exposes quite well the paucity of personal ambitions of those who try to put their own ambitions, their own party or career above the interests of the state, the people’s interests; those who hide in the rear, while pretending to be the only one who cares about defense. Any activity on the part of politicians aimed at splitting (society - ed.) or collaborating (with the enemy - ed.) will not succeed. But they will face a tough response. That is why the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has decided that, given the full-scale war being waged by the Russian Federation and the ties that some political organizations have with that state, any activity of a number of political parties will be suspended pending martial law. Namely: Opposition Platform - For Life, Sharij’s Party, Nashi, Opposition Bloc, Left Opposition, Union of Left Forces, Derzhava, "Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialist Party of Ukraine, the Socialists, and Volodymyr Saldo’s Bloc," said Zelensky.
Gateway Pundit noted:
Among the suspended parties is the “Opposition Platform—For Life (OPFL),” Ukraine’s second-largest party in parliament. OPFL has been a stalwart defender of Ukraine’s sovereignty ever since the Russian invasion began. At the very start of the invasion, on February 24, OPFL expelled a member of their party for expressing support of the invasion. When martial law was declared and approved by parliament, not a single member of OPFL voted against the measure. Days later, OPFL supported a measure criminalizing collaboration with Russia. On March 7, they issued a statement calling for a ceasefire and complete withdrawal of all Russian troops.
You are of course free to believe that banning all political parties that don't completely submit to the Zelensky line & imprisoning random bloggers for criticizing the government is awesome - but then stop spamming me with your bullshit "they invaded a sovereign democracy" line
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) March 20, 2022
The actions of Zelenskyy would be the equivalent of Biden unilaterally banning Republicans, making their activities illegal, and stripping them of all political influence.
Yet, Democrats and Neocons want the American public to believe Ukraine is the sovereign nation under attack worthy of our tax dollars.
So if Zelensky bans opposition parties in Ukraine…doesn’t that make him the authoritarian power hungry dictator many try to claim Putin is?
— 🇵🇸 #FreePalestine #FreeGaza 🇵🇸 (@realnikohouse) March 20, 2022
If Putin banned 11 opposition parties under the pretext of war, just as Zelensky has done today, Western media would be likening it to a Stalinesque purge.
— Richard Medhurst (@richimedhurst) March 20, 2022
Tweeted just hours before Zelensky unilaterally banned 11 opposition parties -- impressive https://t.co/97BSba4AOb
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) March 20, 2022
I wouldn't call banning your opposition 'more' tolerant or 'more' liberal.
It's the actions of a dictator.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!