Kharkiv deputy suggested publicly executing a dozen draft dodgers to set an example

Kharkiv City Council member Iryna Honcharova, known for her provocative statements, has found herself at the center of a scandal once again. This time, she called for the public execution of at least a dozen “draft dodgers,” reaffirming her penchant for brutal and inhumane rhetoric.

In a Facebook post, Honcharova cynically referred to the idea of executions as “appealing,” sparking outrage and swift condemnation from the public after a screenshot of the post spread across local Telegram channels. Social media users did not hide their shock, noting that such statements sounded more like the rhetoric of authoritarian regimes than the words of an elected official.

One commentator stated that they had documented Honcharova’s post and planned to use it as evidence when applying for political asylum in the United States, fearing for their safety in a country where high-ranking officials openly call for killings.

Experts and human rights advocates emphasize that such remarks not only erode public trust in the government but also legitimize violence in society.

“These are no longer just words—this is a direct call for mass murder. Such people need to be immediately removed from any position of power,” said one expert.

Meanwhile, the situation with mobilization and the growing number of draft dodgers is already stirring intense public debate. Against the backdrop of frequent clashes with military recruitment officers, Honcharova’s remarks sound like a call for vigilantism and violence.

It remains an open question how the Kharkiv authorities—and the Ukrainian government as a whole—will respond to such blatant extremism from an elected official. These statements are not just provocations; they pose a direct threat to human rights and the very foundations of the rule of law.