«He is a miserable leader of the team that is moving the nation towards dictatorship»: Poroshenko criticised Zelenskyy

Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an election debate, 19 April 2019. Photo: Getty Images

The fifth president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, has said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team is leading Ukraine to a dictatorship.

He said this in an interview with the German newspaper BILD.

«He is a miserable leader of a team that is moving the nation towards dictatorship. But Ukraine is not Russia, and we will not allow a dictatorship to emerge in Ukraine. This is a big difference», Petro Poroshenko said.

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He called the sanctions against him and his party imposed a month ago by the National Security and Defence Council «an attack on freedom and democracy».

«This is also an attempt on our European future, because the rule of law, which is now being brutally violated, is crucial for our European integration», said the former president.

However, he could not answer the question of why he is under sanctions: «I am the only political leader, the only opposition leader, who has been sanctioned without any explanation. What is happening here is unconstitutional, illegal, there is no court decision. This is just a very stupid, illegal, criminal violation of the law».

In addition to Petro Poroshenko, sanctions have also been imposed on Ihor Kolomoiskyi, Kostiantyn Zhevago, Viktor Medvedchuk and Hennadii Boholiubov. The sanctions include asset freezes and other restrictions.

Petro Poroshenko reacted to the decision on sanctions, calling them «unconstitutional» and «politically motivated». He also said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Cabinet of Ministers and members of the National Security and Defence Council were allegedly involved.

Later it became known that the basis for the sanctions against the leader of «European Solidarity» Petro Poroshenko was a criminal case on treason, as well as other charges related to his political and business activities.