Originally, Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov, who was suspected of corruption, was supposed to resign, but things are very different now. As speculation grew about his political future, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked whether Reznikov would remain in office.
“Yes, that was my president’s decision,” the still-serving defense secretary said in an interview with Reuters. Resnikov’s possible resignation was extremely turbulent: for example, the high-ranking member of parliament resigned David Arachamijaof Zelenskyj’s party announced Reznikov’s official resignation and even appointed a successor.
Decision not discussed with chairman
However, the minister remained in office and it was only shortly after the announcement that Arakhamija denied his statement again: “There will be no dismissals or appointments this week,” he explained. Such a decision was not coordinated with the president, he admitted.
Lawyer Reznikov, who became defense minister just months before the Russian invasion began, was under pressure over a corruption scandal in his ministry. Although the minister was not directly involved, the question of political responsibility for the matter arose.
Resnikov emphasized that Selenskyj himself had asked him to stay on as defense minister. It is therefore likely that he will play an important role in the legal settlement of alleged war crimes in the future.
Power struggle for Zelenskyy
The bickering over the ministerial post reveals an intensified internal power struggle in Zelensky’s environs. According to the Ukrainian media, there is allegedly an unspoken competition between different centers of influence in the presidential party.
So the attempt to fire the defense minister may have more to do with the possible upcoming elections than with the corruption scandal in Reznikov’s ministry. In fact, there has been talk since January about possible resignation in the government.
Source: Krone
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