Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with the backing of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, declared that all opposition parties would be suspended indefinitely until martial law is declared over.
In a statement issued yesterday evening, President Zelenskyy announced the following decree: political parties who his party, “Servants of the People,” has identified as being pro-Russian would be suspended until the nation-wide martial law is lifted. The list essentially includes every opposition party.
⚡Ukraine’s RNBO suspends activities of pro-🇷🇺 political parties for the time of the war, Zelenskyy informs:
🔹Opposition Platform-For Life
🔹Shariy’s Party
🔹Nashi
🔹Opposition Bloc
🔹Socialist Party
🔹Left Opposition
🔹Union of Left Forces
🔹Derzhava & others— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 20, 2022
With millions of their constituents now stripped of any political infrastructure, it’s safe to say that this is not the sort of action taken by a ‘democracy.’
Ukraine may be the first example in human history of a country that under the pressure of war is becoming *more* tolerant and *more* liberal
— David Frum (@davidfrum) March 19, 2022
Nor is it liberal. Sorry, Frum.
Among the suspended parties is the “Opposition Platform—For Life (OPFL),” Ukraine’s second-largest party in parliament. OPFL has been a stalwart defender of Ukraine’s sovereignty ever since the Russian invasion began. At the very start of the invasion, on February 24, OPFL expelled a member of their party for expressing support of the invasion. When martial law was declared and approved by parliament, not a single member of OPFL voted against the measure. Days later, OPFL supported a measure criminalizing collaboration with Russia. On March 7, they issued a statement calling for a ceasefire and complete withdrawal of all Russian troops.
You are of course free to believe that banning all political parties that don’t completely submit to the Zelensky line & imprisoning random bloggers for criticizing the government is awesome – but then stop spamming me with your bullshit “they invaded a sovereign democracy” line
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) March 20, 2022
To put this in perspective, OPFL has 43 seats in Ukraine’s parliament. They represent millions of citizens and are particularly favored in eastern Ukraine.
If a similar action were to happen in the United States, it would be as though Biden stripped Republicans of all political influence.
The following political parties were suspended: Opposition Platform—For Life, Shariy Party, Nashi, Opposition Bloc, Left Opposition, Union of Left Forces, State, Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialists, and Volodymyr Saldo Bloc.
