Rome, 18 Aug. (LaPresse) – In a speech on his YouTube channel, the former Ukrainian Defence Minister called for elections to be held in the country. ‘We must answer a fundamental question: how should a state function if the war lasts for years? Could Russia really be granted the right to decide when Ukrainians will be able to elect their own government again? I am convinced it cannot. Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,’ he said, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. Fedorov said he was aware that it is ‘difficult’ to hold elections during wartime. “We must guarantee the right to vote for the military. For millions of Ukrainians abroad. For people in frontline regions. We must ensure the security of the electoral process, the independence of institutions and confidence in the result,” he said, before adding that “complexity does not mean impossibility”, as Ukraine “has many times achieved what the world considered impossible”.
Ukraine: Fedorov calls for elections: ‘Democracy cannot be held hostage by Moscow’
Rome, 18 Aug. (LaPresse) – In a speech on his YouTube channel, the former Ukrainian Defence Minister called for elections to be held in the country. ‘We must answer a fundamental question: how should a state function if the war lasts for years? Could Russia really be granted the right to decide when Ukrainians will be able to elect their own government again? I am convinced it cannot. Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,’ he said, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. Fedorov said he was aware that it is ‘difficult’ to hold elections during wartime. “We must guarantee the right to vote for the military. For millions of Ukrainians abroad. For people in frontline regions. We must ensure the security of the electoral process, the independence of institutions and confidence in the result,” he said, before adding that “complexity does not mean impossibility”, as Ukraine “has many times achieved what the world considered impossible”.