Fedorov: without presidential elections, Ukraine “will cease to be a democracy”

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for presidential elections to be held amid the ongoing conflict.

He made the statement in an interview with the BBC.

“We should not be afraid to discuss this. That is the essence of democracy. If I cannot share my ideas and speak openly about them with my own society, then what are we fighting for?” — the former minister said.

Fedorov also stressed that democracy “must not be held hostage to the conflict.” According to him, if presidential elections in Ukraine do not take place, the country “will cease to be a democracy.”

This is not the first such statement from the former minister. On August 19, Fedorov had already spoken about a systemic governance crisis in the country and the need for presidential elections. At the time, he stressed that power exists to serve Ukraine, not itself, and that elections are necessary to restore the democratic process.

Earlier, Western sources revealed what the conflict between Zelensky and Fedorov could lead to.