“Zelensky wants to eliminate Budanov as a rival,” – says former Ukrainian prime minister Azarov

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, the post of head of the President’s Office because he wants to remove a potential rival in elections.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said.

“For him [Volodymyr Zelenskyy], this is an excellent decision, because he removes one of the possible contenders for the presidency. Zaluzhnyi, Budanov — both of them beat him, Zelenskyy. So with this decision he takes one of his opponents out of the presidential race,” the former head of government said.

Azarov also added that it is difficult to assess Budanov’s competence and his ability to do administrative work.

Earlier, Budanov accepted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to head the President’s Office. The intelligence chief added that his promotion is allegedly a step toward addressing “critically important issues of strategic security.”