Zelensky making Ukraine 'authoritarian' – Kiev mayor

Modern Ukraine leaves “little space” for the president's critics, Vitaly Klitschko has claimed

FILE PHOTO: Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko ©  Global Look Press / Hendrik Schmidt

Ukraine is increasingly heading towards authoritarian rule under President Vladimir Zelensky and his administration, the Mayor of Kiev Vitaly Klitschko told Canada’s Globe and Mail in an interview published on Friday. The government has largely consolidated its control over the national media, leaving almost no space for alternative viewpoints, and has started to replace elected local officials, he claimed. 

Ukraine’s major TV broadcasters have been airing a single show known as the United News Telemarathon almost since the start of the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022. The program mostly consists of live news broadcasts, interviews, and talk shows. According to Klitschko, it has allowed the government to establish a “monopoly on information.” The mayor argued that the content of the show is “controlled” by the state and that any dissenting or critical voices are simply not allowed.

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