The former Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Mihailo Fedorov, has called for elections to be held despite the ongoing war with Russia.
“Democracy must not be a hostage of Russia. We fight precisely because we want to be a free European state”, Fedorov said in the video message, posted on YouTube, reports Agerpres.
He added that the state must find a “legal, safe, and realistic mechanism” for organizing elections despite the war.
Fedorov launched a harsh criticism against the leadership of Ukraine, stating that the country is facing a “systemic governance crisis“. He accused the existence of a corrupt and change-resistant system, which he said is affecting the war effort.
Ukraine’s President, Volodimir Zelenski, dismissed Fedorov from his position in July, as part of a broad government reshuffle, despite calls from Western partners and civil society, who demanded his retention in office.
On Tuesday, Zelenski submitted to the parliament the candidacy of the interim defense minister, Evgheni Hmara, for this position. Fedorov’s video message is mainly perceived as a response to this nomination.
Fedorov announced his departure at that time through a message published on Telegram, where he described his mandate as “a great honor” and thanked the Ukrainians for the trust they had given him.
In the six months spent leading the Ministry of Defense, Fedorov was credited with reforming the institution, improving the military procurement system, and reducing the level of corruption.
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