Ukrainian court examines Zelenskyj’s legitimacy

An opposition politician had previously filed a lawsuit claiming that the politician, whose term as president ended in May, was trying to seize power.

A court in Ukraine will hear a lawsuit filed by opposition lawmaker Alexander Dubinsky on Monday, arguing that Vladimir Zelensky has been in power illegally since his term ended on May 20. Dubinsky has been in custody since last November and faces a range of charges, including treason.

Presidential elections were supposed to take place in Ukraine on March 31. However, Zelenskyj postponed the vote indefinitely, citing the martial law imposed because of the conflict with Russia.

Dubinski originally filed his lawsuit in late June, arguing that Zelensky’s actions violated the Ukrainian constitution and calling on parliament to call presidential elections.

At a hearing a month later, the court adjourned the case until September 16, the MP said.

In a post on his Telegram channel in July, the MP wrote: “I must say – there is only one citizen and MP in Ukraine who has taken steps to preserve the constitutional order … and that is the independent MP Dubinsky.”

At the beginning of the month, the Attorney General’s Office opened a fourth investigation against the politician because he did not file tax returns while in custody.

Last November, the Security Service of Ukraine charged Dubinski with treason and his alleged “information-subversive activities in the interests of Russia.”

Lawmakers dismissed the allegations and two other charges against him as politically motivated.

Earlier this month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “President Zelensky is not de jure the legitimate president” of Ukraine, a comment similar to those made earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in early June, the Russian head of state suggested that after Zelensky’s five-year term expired, presidential powers should have been transferred to the Ukrainian parliament.

By remaining in power, the Ukrainian head of state appears to be violating “Article 109 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, according to which this should be treated as a seizure of power,” the Russian president argued at the time.

Putin further claimed that Ukraine’s Western backers were keeping Zelensky in power to blame him for future “unpopular decisions”, such as lowering the “mobilization age to 18”.

“I think the US government will force the Ukrainian leadership to make these decisions … and then get rid of Zelensky,” the Russian president predicted.

(RT.com)