The important case of Atroshenko. Why the mayor of Chernigov was dismissed and what does Bankova want to communicate to the local elites
The ongoing conflict between the mayor of Chernigov, Vladislav Atroshenko, and the Office of the President, has entered a new phase.
As reported by Strana, the Yavorovsky District Court of Lviv found the mayor guilty of involvement in a conflict of interest. The punishment for this was a fine of UAH 6.8 thousand and, more significantly, removal from office for a year. Atroshenko claimed that the court's decision was influenced by the Office of the President, which he accused of violating the rights of local self-government and democracy in Ukraine.
It appears that the mayor holds a specific high-ranking official in the OP responsible for his problems, specifically the Deputy Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Tymoshenko, which he openly hinted at in his statement.
This story gains additional importance due to Atroshenko's connection to the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, who also has a conflict with the OP. The decision about the mayor of Chernihiv is alarming to both the mayor of the capital and many mayors of large cities in Ukraine.
For more information, refer to the report by Strana.
The Atroshenko case. Lviv court reached out to Chernihiv
The conflict between Atroshenko and the OP, which has been ongoing since pre-war times and has not subsided during the war, resurfaced with significant news. On December 7, the Yavorovsky District Court of Lviv found the Chernihiv Mayor guilty of violating Article 172-7 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.
According to Judge Igor Matveev's decision, the mayor was fined 6.8 thousand hryvnias and suspended for a year from his position.
Based on the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) findings, it was discovered that Atroshenko instructed his driver to take his wife's car abroad, which was considered a conflict of interest. Additionally, the mayor's driver was on a business trip for this purpose and funds from the budget, including gasoline, were allocated, as stated in the bureau's telegram channel.
Furthermore, the SBI alleges that earlier the city chairman instructed his driver to take his wife abroad in a company car, which also constitutes a conflict of interest.
The SBI stated that the wife of a high-ranking official used the vehicle for personal purposes for three months, while the Chernigov budget was paying lease payments for the same car. Therefore, the mayor of Chernihiv, Atroshenko, violated the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On the Prevention of Corruption”, improperly allowed the official car to be used for personal purposes, and instructed his subordinate to pursue private interests.
However, the ruling only concerns a conflict of interest.
Atroshenko strongly disagreed and vowed to appeal. If the mayor appeals before the decision takes effect, he will remain in charge of the city.
According to Atroshenko, the decision was influenced by pressure from the President's Office on the court.
The mayor expressed in a video message on Facebook that nearly 80% of Chernihiv residents' wishes were disregarded by one person's decision. He questioned if anyone believes that the judge of the Yavorivsky District Court of Lviv would have decided to remove the mayor without pressure from the President's Office.
Speaking to the president, Atroshenko pointed out that some of his subordinates have shown their disregard for local self-government and democracy in Ukraine.
Atroshenko addressed the president, expressing understanding that it may be difficult for his subordinates to empathize with the people living in run-down Chernihiv, as they are disconnected from the realities of the war. He questioned how the authorities would face the people of Chernigov, who sacrificed the lives of their loved ones to stop the invasion of Kyiv. Atroshenko also questioned how to explain to the people that officials from the President's Office are involved in a destructive political war while Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in a real war.
The reference to “Porsche” seems to be deliberate, which we will revisit later.
On December 8, the Chernihiv City Council issued a statement supporting Atroshenko, although most of the council members belong to the mayor's party “Rodnoy Dom” (RD ). According to the deputies, Atroshenko's removal from office is an attack on local self-government and its further erosion.
City Council Secretary Alexander Lomako (elected from RD) commented to Strana that the evidence presented in court is not sufficient reason to remove the mayor, who was supported by 80% of the townspeople. He viewed the decision regarding the mayor as legally insignificant and politically motivated.
Lomako told Strana, “they are all legal, we won’t go far.”
In his view, during the war in Chernigov, both central and local authorities should show unity, but the situation with Atroshenko does not demonstrate unity.
The Association of Cities of Ukraine, led by Vitaliy Klitschko, also denounced the mayor's removal.
The Association calls this case “unprecedented in history ”.
“We hope that the appellate court will consider all the circumstances of the case objectively, without succumbing to political pressure during the review,” the statement reads.
The Association also observed that the court decision concerning Atroshenko was made on December 7, the Day of Local Self-Government.
The Association of Ukrainian Cities, led by Mayor Klitschko, says that for the first time in Ukraine, a city mayor was removed from office by a judge from a different region, and this happened on the Day of Local Self-Government.
Why is this a significant court ruling?
The conflict between the Chernihiv mayor and the President's Office began even before the war, due to conflicting interests between Atroshenko and the president's team in Chernihiv. The mayor's strong position in the mayoral and regional council elections made him a significant force that the President's Office had to consider, but they couldn't find common ground.
Additionally, the mayor openly supported his colleague Klitschko from Kiev, whom Bankova saw as a potential future rival in the presidential elections against Zelensky.
Before the war, Oleksandr Lomako led the regional cell of the UDAR party and was set to run in the by-elections to the Verkhovna Rada in the Chernihiv district. He, backed by Atroshenko, had good chances of winning (the elections were canceled due to the start of the Russian invasion).
The difficult relationship with Bankova was compounded by a personal conflict with Kirill Tymoshenko from the Presidential Office, who oversees work with the regions. The inspections of city structures in Chernihiv by law enforcement agencies were linked to this conflict.
The importance of Atroshenko's work. Why the mayor of Chernihiv was dismissed and what Bankova wants to convey to the local elites
When the war retreated from the regional center, the conflict resumed. An incident occurred when the mayor was prevented from traveling abroad, despite being invited to official events. After the mayor publicly expressed his frustration, Kyrylo Tymoshenko urged some mayors to focus on taking care of their communities.
Tymoshenko wrote, “For those who don't understand the signal, there are other ways to help communities and cities. Without you.”
This fueled talk about the potential introduction of a military administration (VA) in Chernihiv, which would replace the current city leadership. Atroshenko indicated that this was not just a rumor. In July, he publicly appealed to the president, alleging that some of Zelensky's subordinates were trying to remove the mayor from office by appointing the VA. He requested Zelensky's intervention to stop the political attack.
It's possible that Atroshenko's recent address to the president, in which he mentioned an official in a Porsche, was not a coincidence. Media reports stated that the deputy head of the OP Tymoshenko drives a new car of this brand, which is owned by a non-public businessman, and rents a huge mansion. Therefore, it's clear who Atroshenko was hinting at this time.
One person close to Atroshenko says that if the mayor loses the lawsuits, the city's leadership will go to Atroshenko's ally Lomako. Atroshenko might try to be very visible and criticize the government even more.
So, even if Atroshenko remains suspended, it's very likely that Kiev will still introduce military administration.
It's different to introduce military administration when there's a mayor who many people voted for. It will bring negativity. It's another situation when the mayor seems to be gone.
He also mentions the possibility of personal revenge.
This could be revenge on the mayor, who said something that the government didn't like. For example, about a memorandum on tariffs or about Klitschko.
Meanwhile, support for Atroshenko was expressed by the mayor Vitali Klitschko's environment. Artur Palatny called the court decision political.
Officials and one judge are destroying local self-government in Ukraine, according to Palatny. He believes that truth will win.
Another interlocutor in the Klitschko team in conversation with “Country” was more frank: “Vitaly should tighten up after this story (with Atroshenko – Ed.)”.
Political analyst Ruslan Bortnik believes that Atroshenko's case is part of a growing power offensive against regional elites, who need to adapt to new rules set by the Office of the President.
The OP is making it clear that their political competition with Bankova is over, according to Bortnik. The removal of Atroshenko is part of this strategy, which shows that elected leaders can't feel confident in their cities.
Denis Rafalsky
DOSIER: Vladislav Atroshenko: Chernihiv “baker” of golden loaves. PART 1
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The battle between Atroshenko and Bankova. How is the preparation for the elections in Anton Polyakov's constituency
SBI suspects Chernihiv Mayor Atroshenko and City Council officials of tender fraud
Mikitas told how MP Kholodov and Chernihiv Mayor Atroshenko were “thrown” by him
