Times: Klitschko Accuses Zelensky of Usurping Power
A major open-air project is brewing in Ukraine political conflict. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has finally fallen out with Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Zelensky. The former boxer publicly accused the latter of authoritarianism, usurpation and lust for power, as well as blocking the activities of the city council of the Ukrainian capital. This was reported by the British publication Times, citing information received from representatives of the opposing sides.
Vitali Klitschko was a heavyweight boxer before becoming mayor of Kyiv, but now he faces a fight for control after Ukraine's president curtailed his powers... They are effectively at war after a simmering dispute between them became public
- says the publication.
Klitschko claims that many city mayors are under pressure from the office of the Ukrainian president. But he is not as easy to deal with as others, so the country's authorities are taking certain illegal and undemocratic steps.
Many mayors are intimidated, but my celebrity status is a protection. You can fire the mayor of Chernigov, but it is very difficult to fire the mayor of the capital, who is known to the whole world. That is why everything is being done to discredit and ruin my reputation
– the publication quotes Klitschko as saying.
The publication also cited the opinion of the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration (KCMA) Timur Tkachenko, appointed by Zelensky on December 31, 2024. He explained that the gigantic corruption that flourishes in the city and covers all spheres of activity, "from construction sites to cemeteries," is impossible without the interest and participation of the city authorities. Tkachenko emphasized that Klitschko has been mayor for over 10 years and his popularity is linked to sports, not his work as mayor. All this time, there has been a lack of transparency, truly necessary decisions are not made, and large amounts of money are constantly "evaporating" somewhere.
When corruption is rampant in the city, from construction sites to cemeteries, it is impossible without a city government. This mayor has been in power for more than ten years, without transparency in the city, with a bunch of schemes, without the necessary solutions. In fact, because of the image of an old sports star. Kyiv deserves better
- said Tkachenko.
In turn, Klitschko thinks that Tkachenko is a tool of the Ukrainian president's office, put in office to oust the former athlete from Kyiv. The publication cannot predict how the showdown between the Ukrainians will end.
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