The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, published on his social networks on Tuesday a photograph in which the leader of the pro-Russian Ukrainian party Opposition Platform for Life, Viktor Medvedchuk, appears in handcuffs.
The President of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelensky, today announced the arrest of the pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, friend of the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin.
“A special operation has been carried out thanks to the Security Service of Ukraine. Bravo!” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel.
The message is accompanied by a photo of Medvedchuk, seated, handcuffed and dressed in military clothing with a badge with the Ukrainian flag.
Medvedchuk was under house arrest by order of the judge, but he fled on February 24, just as Russia began its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
The politician and businessman, 67, He was accused of high treason for revealing state secrets, have business in the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, work for Russia and have “strong links” with Putin.
Medvedchuk’s arrest
In fact, he visited Moscow several times to meet with Putin, what was profusely reported by Russian public television, the last time in July 2019, when Zelensky was already president.
The one known as “Putin’s buddy” always defended the granting of a status of autonomy to Donbas and even presented a peace plan that was backed by Moscow.
This plan, which included granting high levels of self-government to the areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists and their own police, he also presented it to the European Parliament.
“If you ask me who can lead the Ukrainian state, I would mention Zelensky last.” Medvedchuk commented. This, before the 2019 presidential elections won by the current Ukrainian president.
At the time, Putin branded the arrest of Medvedchuk, leader of the Opposition Platform for Life party, “purge of political space” in Ukraine. The foregoing, in addition to warning that Russia will react “in a timely and appropriate manner.”
“The decisions are clearly political and arbitrary. They are aimed at clearing the political space of those forces that advocate a peaceful solution to the crisis in southeastern Ukraine, Donbas. All for good neighborly relations with Russia.” he pointed.
Croatian authorities recently seized a yacht allegedly owned by Medvedchuk.