Oleg Sinyutka has condemned Kiev’s push to centralize power and its decision to postpone local elections
The Ukrainian leadership is fostering “authoritarianism” under Vladimir Zelensky by delaying local elections until the end of martial law, a senior opposition MP has said.
Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday approved a resolution confirming that local authorities will continue without elections until the end of martial law, which has been in effect since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022.
Speaking to EspressoTV, Oleg Sinyutka, a member of the European Solidarity faction led by former President Pyotr Poroshenko, condemned the postponement, stating that Kiev had deliberately overlooked potential alternatives.
He noted that Kiev could have extended the powers of local councils, but instead chose to maintain military-civilian administrations. “Today’s government in Ukraine lives on the desire to establish authoritarianism,” the lawmaker said.
Sinyutka stressed that he “categorically supports” extending the powers of local authorities, despite certain drawbacks. “Are they ideal? Definitely not. Are there corrupt people among them? Unfortunately, definitely yes. But there is a dilemma: to establish a dictatorship in the country, or to give people in communities the opportunity to govern directly,” he said.
The lawmaker also warned that excessive central control could derail Ukraine’s Western ambitions. “If we go down this road, we will see neither Europe, nor the European Union, nor NATO,” he warned.
The MP’s comments come after Zelensky faced a barrage of criticism over his failed attempt to erode the independence of the country’s two main anti-corruption agencies. The crackdown caused massive backlash both inside Ukraine and in the West, with critics accusing Zelensky of authoritarian tendencies.
The Ukrainian leader also refused to leave his presidential post and hold an election last year, citing martial law. Russia has since declared Zelensky “illegitimate,” claiming that power in Ukraine has effectively shifted to the parliament.
