Protests over Fedorov’s resignation continue: protest participants appeal to Zelensky

On August 16, another rally in support of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov took place in Kyiv. Participants marched through the center of the capital and handed over an appeal to Volodymyr Zelensky and the text of the petition to a representative of the Office of the President.

The protesters opposed Fedorov’s resignation from the post of head of the Ministry of Defense. Participants of the rally carried posters with the inscriptions “Innovation = Victory”, “Corruption Kills” and “Nothing Will Be Solved Here by Its Own Means”.

The petition was handed over to a representative of the Office of the President

At a checkpoint at the intersection of Instytutska and Olginska streets, several participants of the rally handed over an appeal to the president and the text of the petition to a representative of the Office of the President.

Among the demands is an explanation of the personnel decisions regarding the appointment of Rustem Umerov as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service and Vitaly Kim as Minister of Veterans Affairs. Participants also demand a decision on the heads of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier, veteran and initiator of the protests Dmytro Kozyatynskyi tried to register a corresponding petition on the president’s website, but it was rejected.

The actions that day were not only held in the capital. Protests were also held in Lviv, Dnipro, Lutsk, Rivne, Poltava, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernivtsi.

Protests in support of Fedorov have been ongoing since July

The actions began after government personnel reshuffles in July. After the Verkhovna Rada voted for the new government, the positions of defense and foreign ministers were left without permanently appointed heads.

Subsequently, Volodymyr Zelenskyy assigned General Yevheniy Khmara to perform the duties of defense minister, and Andriy Sybiza to perform the duties of foreign minister.

The president also offered Mykhailo Fedorov other positions, including deputy prime minister for military innovations. However, Fedorov stated that he would not accept any other position except for the Minister of Defense.

On July 22, Dmytro Kozyatynskyi announced indefinite peaceful actions demanding Fedorov’s return. Since then, protests and public actions in his support have been regularly held in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

On August 14, about 500 people gathered at Ivan Franko Square in the capital for an action in support of Fedorov, according to the organizers. The participants demanded dialogue from the authorities and a clear plan for further reforms.