Zelensky vs. Akhmetov – a test of strength
Zelensky vs. Akhmetov – a test of strength

Author(s): Tadeusz Iwański, Sławomir Matuszak
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, Political behavior, Comparative politics
Published by: OSW Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia
Keywords: Volodymyr Zelensky; Ukraine; Rinat Akhmetov; conflict between Zelensky and Razumkov;
Summary/Abstract: In November, an open conflict broke out between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine’s richest businessman, Rinat Akhmetov. The main cause was Zelensky’s signing of the so-called law on oligarchs. In response, Akhmetov’s television channels, including the most popular one in Ukraine, began to ruthlessly attack the president and to promote his political rivals, in particular the former chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Dmytro Razumkov, who had been dismissed a few weeks earlier and who until recently had been one of the key representatives of the ruling camp, a person with high public support. In response, Zelensky publicly suggested that Akhmetov was involved in an allegedly prepared state coup and that his entourage was dragging him into a war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, the President’s Office stepped up actions against his business.

• Details
• Contents