Ukraine government suspends political activity of 11 parties with Russian ties

This weekend, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky announced the suspension of eleven political parties in Ukraine that would be immediately suspended from any political activity because they have known ties to the Kremlin.

In a television address the Ukrainian leader explained, “… the national security and defense council decided, given the full-scale war unleashed by Russia, and the political ties that a number of political structures have with this state, to suspend any activity of a number of political parties for the period of martial law.”

Most of the political parties suspended are small and relatively insignificant, but one, the Opposition Platform for Life, came in second in the most recent election and currently holds 44 of the 450 seats in Ukraine’s parliament.

Its leader, Viktor Medvedchuk, an oligarch with known pro-Russian views and a rumored close personal relationship with Vladimir Putin, was charged with treason last year by the Ukrainian government and placed under house arrest. Medvedchuk escaped house arrest the first week of the Russian invasion and his whereabouts are currently unknown. 

Russia’s response to the banning of the pro-Russian parties in Ukraine has caused backlash from the Kremlin. Top Russian security official and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev took to Telegram to blast Zelensky’s decision.

“The most democratic president of modern Ukraine has taken another step towards the western ideals of democracy. By decision of the Council for National Defence and Security, he completely banned any activity of opposition parties in Ukraine. They are not needed! Well done! Keep it up,” he wrote.