Poroshenko comes under fire from SSU and ‘aunties’

Security Service of Ukraine head Ivan Bakanov
announced that law enforcement would investigate possible ties between former
president Petro Poroshenko and former NBU chair Valeriya Hontareva with
pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk. Bakanov made the announcement during
a press conference with Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova in which she
announced new charges against Medvedchuk. He also stated that the issue of
their involvement is “a difficult question,” but that if investigators found
anything, journalists would be told and the public informed.

On the evening of Oct. 9, protestors gathered outside
of Poroshenko’s house to demand that he explain his ties with Medvedchuk and
whether he had helped in the scheme to fund the Donetsk People Republic.
Clashes broke out between protestors and Poroshenko’s supporters, with one
protestor arrested for petty hooliganism. Protests continued into Oct. 10, with
a counter-protest organized in front of President Zelensky’s home.

Poroshenko laid the blame for the protests on
Zelensky, saying that the Presidential Office is issuing orders, and ‘buying
aunties’ and sending them to protest against him, and insults Ukraine.

Regarding the threat of investigation, Poroshenko’s
European Solidarity Party issued a press release recommending that Bakanov
check a litany of complaints against himself, Zelensky and billionaire Ihor
Kolomoisky in connection with the theft of billions of dollars from Privatbank,
as well as the scandal over the Ukreximbank loan to parties tied to those
running occupied Donetsk.

James Hydzik: The press
release from European Solidarity cuts to the heart of the matter – Privatbank
and Kolomoisky, who is seen as the oligarchic force behind Zelensky’s
presidency. The pro-Kolomoisky wing of the Presidential Office, it seems, took
the opportunity created by the embarrassment around the Ukreximbank scandal
to deflect attention while attempting to connect Poroshenko and Hontareva, in
the court of public opinion, with Medvedchuk. Ironically, Medvedchuk becomes
the nexus for events between Ukrainian political factions as well as a spark in
Zelensky’s attempts to be seen with Putin and be raised on the regional
political platform, as we mentioned elsewhere in today’s news.

Poroshenko’s popularity in the West is being
ignored by those in the Presidential Office trying to bring him down, whether
it is for political or commercial reasons, or both. However, at the current
rate, another scandal is likely to appear (or be manufactured) before this one
can be properly digested.