Ukrainian MPs protest Zelensky’s ‘dictatorship’ (VIDEO)

Lawmakers blocked the podium of the Ukrainian parliament on Thursday in protest against Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to impose sanctions on former President Pyotr Poroshenko. In a video published the same day MPs can be seen holding banners and chanting slogans, accusing Zelensky of suppressing political rivals and establishing a dictatorship.

The protest comes after Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, a body directly subordinate to Zelensky, sanctioned Poroshenko on charges linked to treason. In a decree signed on Thursday, Zelensky officially confirmed the restrictions against Poroshenko, as well as several other individuals, including jailed billionaire Igor Kolomoisky and the former leader of the Opposition Platform for Life party, Viktor Medvedchuk, who currently lives in Russia. Previously, the Ukrainian leader had vowed to crack down on individuals who “sold Ukraine” and profited from alleged illicit dealings.

In response to the decree, members of the European Solidarity party, led by Poroshenko, staged a protest in the Rada, displaying banners reading “No to dictatorship” and “No to political repression.” Lawmakers also chanted “shame” and condemned Zelensky’s actions, leading to a temporary adjournment of the parliamentary session.

Poroshenko, who served as president from 2014 to 2019, has emerged as a vocal critic of Zelensky, accusing him of authoritarianism and stifling political competition. In a statement on Facebook, Poroshenko denounced the sanctions against him as “absolutely illegal” and personally ordered by Zelensky. He also claimed that the Ukrainian authorities had barred him from traveling to the Munich Security Conference, scheduled for February 14-16.

The protest in parliament follows mounting concerns over political repression in Ukraine. Since the escalation of the conflict with Russia, Zelensky has banned multiple opposition parties, consolidated control over the media, and postponed elections indefinitely citing martial law.  

Zelensky’s presidential term officially expired in May 2024 and Moscow has since repeatedly stressed that it no longer recognizes his legitimacy as Ukraine’s head of state.

Washington has also signaled concerns over Ukraine’s political future. Following his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine will have to hold elections “at some point” and suggested that Zelensky might not see another term, pointing out that his poll numbers “aren’t particularly great, to put it mildly.”