Vitaly Klitschko worries that freedoms and reforms Ukrainians fought for are being undone, but says his decision to sound the alarm about the country’s political direction is intended to be constructive rather than an attack
For the past 23 months, Ukraine’s main television channels have broadcast a single program, United News Telemarathon, that Mr. Klitschko says allows little space for dissenting voices – while journalists critical of President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration have come under pressure.
On Sunday, investigative journalist Yuriy Nikolov – an outspoken critic of Mr. Zelensky – said unknown men had come to his apartment, banged on the door and demanded that he join the army.
Asked if he had ever been denied the opportunity to present his point of view on United News Telemarathon, Mr. Klitschko paused and bit his lip for 17 seconds before giving an indirect answer.
A December poll conducted by Mr. Burkovskyy’s group and the Razumkov Centre, another Kyiv-based think tank, found that Mr. Zelensky was still the country’s top-rated politician, with 71 per cent of respondents saying they trusted the President.
His only serious rivals in terms of public trust were Vitaly Kim, the popular governor who last year rallied the defence of his southern Mykolaiv region, and philanthropist Serhiy Prytula, whose foundation has been one of the biggest fundraisers and donors of equipment for frontline fighters.
Despite his concerns about the drift away from democracy, Mr. Klitschko said he agreed with Mr. Zelensky that it would be impossible to hold elections, which were scheduled for this year, while the country is at war and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are fighting on the frontline.
The original article contains 1,167 words, the summary contains 240 words. Saved 79%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
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For the past 23 months, Ukraine’s main television channels have broadcast a single program, United News Telemarathon, that Mr. Klitschko says allows little space for dissenting voices – while journalists critical of President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration have come under pressure.
On Sunday, investigative journalist Yuriy Nikolov – an outspoken critic of Mr. Zelensky – said unknown men had come to his apartment, banged on the door and demanded that he join the army.
Asked if he had ever been denied the opportunity to present his point of view on United News Telemarathon, Mr. Klitschko paused and bit his lip for 17 seconds before giving an indirect answer.
A December poll conducted by Mr. Burkovskyy’s group and the Razumkov Centre, another Kyiv-based think tank, found that Mr. Zelensky was still the country’s top-rated politician, with 71 per cent of respondents saying they trusted the President.
His only serious rivals in terms of public trust were Vitaly Kim, the popular governor who last year rallied the defence of his southern Mykolaiv region, and philanthropist Serhiy Prytula, whose foundation has been one of the biggest fundraisers and donors of equipment for frontline fighters.
Despite his concerns about the drift away from democracy, Mr. Klitschko said he agreed with Mr. Zelensky that it would be impossible to hold elections, which were scheduled for this year, while the country is at war and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are fighting on the frontline.
The original article contains 1,167 words, the summary contains 240 words. Saved 79%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!