MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. Vladimir Zelensky’s sanctions against ex-Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko (designated by Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service as a person involved in extremist or terrorist activities) mark the beginning of a political purge, said Ukrainian parliament member Alexey Goncharenko (blacklisted in Russia as a terrorist and extremist).
"We can see a dangerous trend, with the authorities kicking off a political cleansing campaign instead of working to unite the country. Zelensky must have decided that everything is under control, that all deals are made, so he can finally get down to business and start eliminating his political opponents," Goncharenko wrote on Telegram.
He described the sanctions against Poroshenko as a blow to the opposition and democratic values. "This is a message to anyone who holds divergent views: you could be next. <...> It’s another step towards usurping power," the lawmaker concluded.
Verkhovna Rada (parliament) member Nikolay Knyazhitsky agrees. "The authorities are shooting themselves in the foot, and the country’s people in the head. They are making it clear that they are building a dictatorship, defying laws and the constitution. They think that since a presidential election is likely to be held soon, they need to clear the field, eliminate their rivals and suppress independent media outlets," the parliament member pointed out.
Poroshenko said on February 12 that Ukraine’s Security Council had slapped sanctions on him. He also complained of receiving 15 subpoenas at once from the State Bureau of Investigation. The Ukrainian media reported, citing courses, that Poroshenko could face a charge of high treason and his arrest was probably coming soon. The decree on sanctions, published on February 13, says that 17 restrictions are imposed on the former president indefinitely. They include an asset freeze and the termination of electronic communications services among other things.