KYIV — Divisions flared in Kyiv on Thursday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree sanctioning a former president and several wealthy businessmen.
Chocolate baron and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, a political opponent and longtime nemesis of Zelenskyy, was sanctioned on suspicion of “high treason” and assisting a terrorist organization — prompting criticism and allegations of a “politically motivated” witch hunt.
Zelenskyy first announced the intention to impose sanctions on the ex-president and politically connected businesspeople in a video published Wednesday evening.
“I just held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, the decision has been made, it will be published tomorrow. We are protecting our state and restoring justice. Everyone who destroyed the national security of Ukraine and helped Russia must be held accountable,” Zelenskyy said.
“The billions that were earned by actually selling Ukraine and Ukrainian interests, Ukrainian security, must be blocked and used to protect Ukraine and Ukrainians. This will be mandatory,” he added.
Along with Poroshenko, oligarchs Viktor Medvedchuk — an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been waging all-out war on Ukraine for years — Kostyantyn Zhevago, Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholyubov were all sanctioned too, according to the document.
The sanctions freeze the targets’ assets in Ukraine and block them from conducting financial transactions, among other measures.
Poroshenko — who was accused by Ukraine’s security service of making deals that pushed Ukraine into energy dependence on Russia — said in a video that the sanctions “were not news to him” and that they are “unconstitutional” and “politically motivated.”
“There are many accomplices in this crime: Zelenskyy’s entire team, the Cabinet of Ministers, which was forced to submit to an absurd proposal, members of his National Security and Defense Council. But the customer, executor, and signatory is one — Zelenskyy personally,” said Poroshenko.
Poroshenko served as Ukraine’s president from 2014 until 2019 before losing the election to Zelenskyy, sparking a long-term feud between the two men.
Following Zelenskyy’s victory, more than 20 cases criminal cases were opened against Poroshenko, including one where he was accused of treason.
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