Ukraine nationalists to launch “no confidence” referendum in gov’t

Up to 4,000 members and supporters of Praviy Sektor, Ukraine’s leading paramilitary organization, rallied at Kyiv’s central square, the Maidan, to declare their disapproval for the politics of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his handling of the war in Donbas with the Russian government. Speakers complained about ongoing government corruption and political persecution of volunteer battalions. Some battalion leaders threatened a revolt against the current government though Praviy Sektor leader Dmytro Yarosh said he opposed any government overthrow, which he said would play into the hands of Moscow.

Praviy Sektor, which has a nationalist ideology skeptical of the West, will launch a nationwide referendum today to declare “no confidence” in the President, Prime Minister and the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, said Yarosh, who is himself an MP. The referendum will also pose questions supporting or rejecting the organization’s key demands, which are renouncing the Minsk accords, redefining the anti-terrorist operation as a war and allowing for military offensives and imposing an economic blockade on the occupied territories of Donbas.

Recently, Poroshenko said he would consider new rules that would prosecute all those not legally authorized to carry arms as terrorists. Hennadiy Moskal, the recently appointed regional administration head of the Zakarpattia region, accused Praviy Sektor of engaging in organizing crime, and carrying out kidnappings and extortion of local business.

Zenon Zawada: Instead of holding a rally to merely criticize the government and its alleged persecution campaign of paramilitaries and volunteer battalions, Praviy Sektor turned the tables in the current infowar by declaring the “no confidence” referendum. It’s intended to turn public support in its favor against the government and it was quite a wise political maneuver.

Until the Ukrainian government gets its act together and earns the public trust through reforms and fighting corruption, it will have to deal with the Praviy Sektor as a legitimate organization and reach compromises with its leaders. Praviy Sektor’s popularity is directly correlated with the public’s lack of trust in the government, which means it will continue to be a force to be reckoned with. While it remains on the margins of Ukrainian politics, barely qualifying for parliament according to polls, its potential to muster more support is significant as fatigue with the war grows.