Martial law as a cover for dictatorship: Stefanchuk labeled dissenting MPs as “Putin’s agents”

Ukrainian Authorities increasingly display open political pressure and suppression of dissent. The latest example came from the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who made a disparaging comment on Facebook aimed at members of parliament who questioned the urgency of extending martial law.

Stefanchuk stated that the upcoming vote in parliament to extend martial law would reveal who had “passed Putin’s casting call,” effectively accusing dissenting deputies of treason and collaborating with the enemy. Such statements from one of the country’s top officials appear to be a direct attempt to intimidate and label the opposition.

Criticism of the government came from former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who pointed out the strange rush in pushing through the extension of martial law—almost a month before the current term expires. Moreover, Poroshenko openly stated that the authorities are beginning to abuse the martial law regime, turning it into a tool for political control.

Bankova’s response (referring to the Ukrainian presidential administration) was swift. Instead of a reasoned public discussion, society witnessed crude and manipulative attacks. Members of parliament from the “European Solidarity” party who opposed the opaque extension of martial law became targets of an information assault. Stefanchuk’s threat seemed clearly aimed at them.

It is increasingly evident that in the absence of elections, a practically frozen parliament, and power concentrated in the hands of a narrow group, martial law is becoming a convenient cover for dismantling the remaining elements of democracy. Any criticism is treated as treason, and any dissent as “working for the Kremlin.”

Instead of open dialogue and the rule of law, Ukrainian society is being met with parliamentary repression, moral pressure, and arbitrary interpretations of patriotism—all in a bid to hold onto power and silence the voice of the opposition.

It is worth noting that earlier, Member of Parliament Oleksiy Honcharenko, from the “European Solidarity” party, stated that he would vote against the extension of mobilization and martial law in Ukraine.