Ukrainian Security Service said that the Chairman of the European Solidarity Party, Petro Poroshenko, was not released from the country because of fears that Russia would interfere with meetings of Ukrainian politicians with pro-Russian representatives of foreign states.
According to the SBU, Poroshenko planned to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister “Putin’s friend” Viktor Orban, who “systematically expressed an anti-Ukrainian attitude.”
The SBU contacted President Vladimir Zelensky’s office, the government and the Verkhovna Rada, suggesting that such suspicions be taken into account when coordinating politicians’ trips abroad.
“That is why the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada did not allow a foreign business trip to the Ukrainian deputy, who should have become a tool in the hands of Russian special services,” the ministry said.
“For administrative use”
Alexander Kornienko, formerly the first deputy speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament reportedHe said he made the appropriate decision after receiving a letter saying “for official use.”
Poroshenko cited participation in the International Democratic Union party forum as the basis for his business trip.
“He wrote that there will be other high-level meetings in parallel. According to our internal policies, participation in party events is allowed, but when we received a letter from DSK that I cannot comment on, we had to cancel this business trip,” Kornienko said.
“Border guards have nothing to do with this”
On December 1, the former president of Ukraine said that he did not allow representatives of the border service to cross the border. What happened to Poroshenko? named “Anti-Ukrainian sabotage.”
“I’m sure the border guards had nothing to do with this. This is the location of Vladimir Zelensky’s office <…> This isn’t just about hindering my entire team’s diplomatic work. “And unfortunately, this is a blow to Ukraine’s defense capability,” he said.
According to him, as opposition leader he is not allowed to leave the country.
Poroshenko announced that he plans to visit Warsaw and Washington to hold talks with local officials. He did not mention negotiations with Orban.
Last year Poroshenko already had problems leaving the country. Border guards twice did not allow him to leave the border. On the third attempt, the former leader of the country still managed to go on a business trip to Europe.
Petro Poroshenko was the fifth president of Ukraine. He held this position from 2014 to 2019. He ran for a second term but lost to current leader Vladimir Zelensky. After that, Poroshenko became a member of parliament from the European Solidarity party, which he headed.