From: Maia Mikhaluk (819th day)
I didn’t think I would ever write a post defending Zelensky. During the last elections, I didn’t vote for him and I’ve never been a fan. But ruzzian propaganda is pushing a new narrative, especially in the West, claiming that Zelensky is a dictator who is refusing to conduct elections that we are supposed to have this year.
I want to urge my friends in the West not to fall for ruzzian lies. Yes, it’s true Zelensky’s presidential term is up, but there is no way Ukraine can have elections during the war. 20% of our territory is occupied. People there can’t vote. Millions of Ukrainians are displaced. Hundreds of thousands are in Ukrainian army on the frontlines. Ruzzians keep bombing our cities. Having people gather to vote is to give ruzzians more targets for maximum impact. The logistics of conducting elections right now simply impossible. The polls show that 2/3 of Ukrainians are against having elections during the war. Besides, election legislation forbids holding any type of election as long as martial law is in force.
Election campaigns are often built on polarizing society. Imagine what a gift that would be for ruzzian propaganda which is like poisonous gas that gets into the smallest cracks. To have a chance to sow discord among Ukrainians would be a dream come true for putin.
But let’s say we somehow pulled off the impossible and had elections, and a new President was elected. Transitioning power in the midst of ongoing war, ruzzian missile strikes on infrastructure, ruzzian troops pushing on the frontlines would make Ukraine more vulnerable.
While putin is eager to find ways to undermine the legitimacy of the Ukrainian President, it’s putin who is a dictator ruling his country illegitimately for 25 years. During those years, Ukraine changed 5 Presidents.
Voice of Ukraine 