The Verkhovna Rada has not held sessions for three weeks because Arahamiya is trying to ‘save’ Prime Minister Shmyhal from dismissal

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has not held sessions for three weeks because David Arakhamia, the leader of the “Sluga Naroda” faction in parliament, is trying to “save” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal from being dismissed, while deputies are “blackmailing” President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, unexpectedly demonstrating their political “agency.”

This information was shared by Oleksiy Honcharenko, a member of parliament from “European Solidarity,” on his Telegram channel.

According to Honcharenko, Zelensky had made the decision to replace Shmyhal with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, back in July. However, the head of the “Sluga Naroda” faction decided to “fight” for Shmyhal, with whom he has “good and diverse relations.” Some deputies are questioning why they should remove Shmyhal and vote for Svyrydenko, asking what is in it for them.

As a result, Zelensky is unable to implement his decision because the deputies, whom he holds in contempt, simply refuse to attend sessions. They have effectively “gone AWOL” (Absent Without Leave).

Honcharenko predicted that sessions would resume next week, and it would become clear which side had prevailed.

There were reports as early as June that Svyrydenko might become the new head of Ukraine’s government by the end of the summer. At the beginning of August, Zelensky hinted at personnel changes in the government in one of his addresses, but he did not provide any details.