21 August 2010, 11:33
Mykola Tomenko: Resolution on the Liquidation of District Councils in Kyiv will demonstrate "theatricality" of the Struggle against Corruptive Activity of the Team of Chernovetskyi
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, admitted that the district councils of Kyiv may be liquidated at the extraordinary sitting of Kyiv city council on August 25. "Further monopolization of authority of the Party of Regions in Kyiv is the only reason for this", he stated.
Reportedly, the coalition amended the Law on the Local Elections as to non-holding of elections of Kyiv mayor and deputies of the city council. However, the elections to the district councils of Kyiv should have been held on October 31, 2010.
M.Tomenko stated: "As popularity of the Party of Regions has not increased, liquidation of the district councils was considered the easiest way to prevent the influence of the opposition political forces in the councils of the Ukrainian capital." "Discussions about the principles of the local self-government are useless now. However, if this intention comes true, the long-lasting campaign of the Party of Regions against the corruptive actions of the team of Chernovetskyi will look like a theatrical performance, as this resolution can be adopted only under support of the Chernovetskyi Bloc faction", the Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated.
He believes that if the Party of Regions and the Chernovetskyi Bloc cancel the elections to the district councils, Leonid Chernovetskyi and his leading team members "will enjoy an act of grace from the authorities." The law-enforcement bodies will interrogate people of minor importance, while the leaders who adopted corruptive resolutions will bear no responsibility to the law, M.Tomenko believes.