Fedorov’s allies split with ex-minister over holding elections during wartime

Some members of former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s inner circle have come out against holding elections under wartime conditions — contrary to the position of the ex-minister himself, who on Tuesday called for them to be held.

Dmytro Koziatynsky, the organizer of rallies in support of Fedorov, said he does not understand how it would be technically possible to ensure that servicemembers on the front lines can participate in voting.

“I am against holding elections during wartime — I cannot imagine how it is technically possible to give thousands of servicemembers who are currently at the front the opportunity to vote and to run for office. I am also very concerned about the division of society during an electoral process and how that could affect the course of the war,” — Koziatynsky wrote on his Facebook page.

Fedorov’s adviser Serhiy Sternenko also spoke out against elections, calling them “very dangerous.” According to him, the electoral process shifts the priorities of those in power.

“What I mean is that those in power start thinking not in terms of what needs to be done to prevail in the war, but in terms of what needs to be done to appeal to the electorate,” — Sternenko said.

The outlet previously published a separate piece on how the standoff between Fedorov and Zelensky is developing.