Volodymyr Zelenskyy is no longer a legitimate president, and his regime is illegal and led by foreigners, pro-Kremlin media write, citing a politician who fled to Russia.
NEWS: The United States of America and its satellites must understand they are voting for the illegal regime of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term as head of state ended on May 20. He refuses to organize presidential elections, as stipulated by the Constitution of Ukraine, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov claims [...].
Western countries involved in international activities must clearly understand that, to ordinary Ukrainians, Zelenskyy is no longer a representative of the people, as his regime is currently illegitimate.
“Zelenskyy swore on the Constitution he would observe the laws of his country. But he has broken his oath, he has no intention of obeying the law, and is clinging to power. Therefore, all his decrees, resolutions and decisions are illegal”, Azarov noted.
“Zelenski will be president until the Americans replace him”, he concluded [...].
Azarov said that Zelensky destroyed Ukraine's sovereignty. According to the former PM, the current head of state has turned from a once young and promising politician into the “undertaker of Ukrainian statehood”.
NARRATIVE: Volodymyr Zelenskyy is no longer a legitimate president and does not represent the interests of the Ukrainian people.
BACKGROUND: Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected President of Ukraine in April 2019, and was sworn in on May 20. Presidential elections were supposed to be held in April 2024, before Zelenskyy’s term ended on May 20. However, the elections could not be organized due to the war.
Nikolai Azarov, cited by Russian media, led a pro-Kremlin government and fled to Russia during the Euromaidan protests, the same as the then-president Viktor Yanukovych.
PURPOSE: To legitimize the war in Ukraine and weaken Western support for Kiev's defensive efforts.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: In actual fact, Volodymyr Zelensky continues to be a legitimate and legal president of Ukraine until the martial law is lifted. The false narrative promoted by Russian and former pro-Russian leaders in Ukraine misleads public opinion by misquoting the Constitution and other laws. Holding any kind of elections during martial law is prohibited under Art. 19 of the Law on the judicial nature of the Martial Law of 2015. The law states that all postponed elections must be held no later than 90 days after martial law has ended. On the other hand, the Constitution of Ukraine allows all elected political bodies to function during martial law, as they are deemed legal and legitimate. These legislative provisions allow for the effective functioning of the state, enabling it to defend itself and preserve constitutional order. Therefore, the president, Parliament and Government are legitimate and their decisions are legal.
Presidential elections were not held in April 2024 due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation which poses an existential threat to Ukrainian statehood. Azarov's accusations against Zelenskyy about his non-compliance with the Constitution are false. On the contrary, constitutional norms are fully observed during martial law, and the decision to postpone the election was not dictated by foreign factors (US, EU, foreign states), but by Ukrainian law.
In November 2023, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that it is impossible to hold the elections in the context of daily fighting and shelling. “Now is the time to defend ourselves, to prepare for the battle on which the fate of our state and its people depends, not for a charade that Russia alone expects of us. I think now is not the time for elections”, Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy’s opinion coincides with that of the people, and Ukrainians understand that elections cannot take place during wartime. According to surveys, 67% of Ukrainians argue against holding elections during wartime, considering that defending the state is the top priority right now. At the same time, as Veridica has shown in a recent analysis, the war has displaced a large part of the population, while Ukraine lost nearly a fifth of its territory. Adding to that is the constant risk of shelling, which would put at risk the groups of people coming to polling stations. In addition, due to martial law, protests, rallies and strikes are prohibited, and criticism of the authorities (common in an election campaign) can be labeled an action funded by Moscow with the aim of destabilizing the state. Due to the lack of any real political competition, also caused by specific circumstances, holding an election right now would not just be a risky venture, but also an illegitimate one.
The false narrative promoted by the Russian media and amplified with the help of Telegram channels fails to make any mention of Russia‘s of Ukraine, the destruction and casualties caused by Moscow's troops. Downplaying the war is aimed at manipulating public opinion and weakening Western support for Kyiv’s defensive efforts.
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