Ukraine MPs call for treason charges against pro-Russian MP

Two Ukrainian parliamentary factions called on June 8
for treason charges to be filed against MP Yevgeny Murayev for provocative comments
regarding political prisoner Oleg Sentsov that repeat the Kremlin position. The
prior day, Murayev told a local television network, “From the point of view
that this person prepared arson and explosions, for one part of the population
he is a terrorist and for the nationalist part he is a hero.” He added, “Time
will tell.”

In referring to Sentsov as a criminal, Murayev was
repeating Russian propaganda about the Crimean pro-Ukrainian film director,
said MP Serhiy Pashynskiy of the People’s Front party, which joined the
Poroshenko Bloc in calling for criminal charges to be filed by the Security
Service (for state treason) and the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (for a
slanderous statement about alleged crime). Pashinskiy called for forbidding
Murayev into the parliamentary session hall until he issues a formal apology.

In response to the criticism, Murayev said his
comments didn’t reflect his personal position, rather “we were examining the
overall political situation, how the government is acting.” He insisted his
statements didn’t violate any laws. Murayev is the head of the political
council of the For Life party, which has a Russian orientation and stands to
qualify for parliament. He also controls the NewsOne television network, which
has helped to promote his party.

Zenon Zawada: Murayev has
emerged as the leading Russophile voice in Ukrainian politics, making
provocative statements that parrot the Kremlin position. The outrageousness of
his statements make him the ideal political punching bag for all of Ukraine’s
pro-Western politicians, particularly President Poroshenko, who is looking for
a potential second-round sparring partner in the March 2019 presidential
elections. The rash and brazen Murayev, 41, would fit this role very well.

However, Murayev is not nearly as popular at this
moment as Ukraine’s other Russian-leaning leader, Yuriy Boyko, the head of the
Opposition Bloc. It’s Boyko – the experienced political insider (59 years old)
who is far more careful with his words – who poses the real threat to Ukrainian
statehood. Although the Presidential Administration might try to elevate
Murayev above Boyko, we don’t see likely success, particularly when Boyko has
far more resources, including the Kremlin’s backing. 

The presence of both Boyko and Murayev on the
political scene also reveals just how fragile Ukraine’s democracy is in a time
of Russian military aggression. Numerous political observers are concerned
about whether Ukrainian statehood will survive the 2019 elections at all, considering
how little trust the public has in the process and how much the Kremlin will
try to undermine it. Murayev’s provocative comments merely add to the
destabilizing factors, though we don’t expect him to be prosecuted because he
is too useful politically for the Poroshenko administration.