Zelensky claims Akhmetov involved in coup d’etat

UKRAINE - In Brief 26 Nov 2021 by Dmytro Boyarchuk

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gathered journalists for a press conference today. He was trying to address a series of scandals his administration has been suffering over the last several weeks, which involve the release of Bellingcat investigation on so-called Wagnergate (failed operation of Ukraine’s secret service on the arrest of Russian mercenaries engaged in war crimes in Eastern Donbas). At this press conference, he claimed openly that Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov is involved in the organization of coup d’etat (scheduled for December 1-2). It's a very strong accusation, and it’s bizarre that this claim was not followed by arrests of those planning coup d’etat (including Rinat Akhmetov). Mr. Akhmetov already publicly rejected this accusation. It became evident that relations between Akhmetov and Zelenskiy had soured several weeks ago when TV channels that belonged to Akhmetov started an open attack on the authorities. Many observers link this U-turn to the so-called anti-oligarch law. Still, this quarrel is most likely mainly related to Akhmetov’s support to Dmytro Razumkov, who is gaining popularity. In my opinion, this claim on the involvement of Akhmetov in coup d’etat Zelenskiy is trying to withdraw public attention from Wagnergate (he is very nervous about this story) and aims to hit the image of Akhmetov. Rinat Akhmetov could not organize effective resistance to revolutions (he supported Yanukovych in 2004 and 2014). He was even unable to keep control over the occupied part of Donbas (rumors tell he had to accept new rules of the game). His involvement in coup d’etat sounds very unlikely, and from social media reactions, it looks like hardly anyone beli...

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