Opposition Politician Complains of Political Pressure

Oleksiy Honcharenko, a Ukrainian MP from the opposition “European Solidarity” party, has accused Ukrainian authorities of exercising personal pressure on him and attempting to close his Honcharenko volunteer Centre in Odesa. In exclusive comments to KyivPost, Honcharenko said:

“After the start of the Russian invasion, we were trying to be as united as possible. But today, I see again this pressure [against me] has started. For us, the story started with attacks against our volunteer Honcharenko centre in Odesa.

“We were making camouflage masking nets in premises rented from the Odesa Regional Council. One day we were told to leave the premises a decision we struggle against for almost a month. Finally, we won …”

Recently, distant relatives of Honcharenko, Mykola and Lesya Derevyanko, were accused by the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) of illegally acquiring public property and land, as reported by the Kyiv Post on May 4.

The couple allegedly attempted to illegally seize the premises of JSC Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian national mail service, and illegally appropriate agricultural lands with a total area of 280 hectares in Zatoka resort village near the coastal protective zone on the Black Sea.

They have been charged with suspicion of forgery, fraud and committing a crime by an organized group. Both were taken into custody with the option to post bail.

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“I always support rule of law, it has nothing to do with me personally and let it be investigated. No questions about that, but what had happened? This lady was taken to prison and it was said by SBU people to her attorneys that your “brother” should shut up," Honcharenko said. 

“She is the mother of four children all under 18 years old. And now both their father and mother are in jail. She did not kill anybody or rob someone on the street. She is not dangerous. Why should the mother of four children be held in custody? Put her under home arrest [fit her with] an electronic bracelet, but why do this?" he added.

“It looks like they are putting pressure on me and they are saying openly that it is because somebody in Kyiv does not like my attitude … I think that Ukraine should forget about such things,” Honcharenko emphasised.