Mikhail Dobkin, who is now carrying the banner for the disgraced Party of Regions led by the fugitive ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, outlined his goals for Ukraine if he is elected president on May 25.
His remarks came during a televised address on April 7 to fellow party members — at least those who are not on the run from murder and corruption charges. Dobkin conveniently made no mention of the alleged massive criminality and corruption of the Yanukovych administration, which he served.
Ukraine’s ex-president and his top allies — including former Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka and Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko — are among those suspected in the plot, aided by Russia, to kill more than 100 EuroMaidan Revolution demonstrators. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk also said the Yanukovych team, of which Dobkin was an integral part, looted the nation of $70 billion during his tenure, including $35 billion in unaccounted for loans.
Dobkin was Yanukovych’s appointed governor in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine’s second most populous region with 2.7 million people, is facing charges of separatism. He said that he “worries about the country’s future.”
While addressing his fellow party members, Dobkin said that the country will benefit by strengthening the powers of local authorities — decentralization rather than “federalization.”
“After the presidential elections, more powers should be given to local authorities,” Dobkin explained. He is also certain the government needs to provide financial and budget autonomy to regional councils, which is a “key to success.”
“Local authorities know better than people in Kyiv what problems they are facing and how to tackle it,” Dobkin said.
On another sensitive question, the status of Russian language, Dobkin said Ukrainian schoolchildren should be able to decide the language of their studies.
He also highlighted security issues.
“We need to deal with our army somehow, which is undergoing tough times. I need to admit it is in a poor state. And again I’m convinced, that this should be done locally,” Dobkin said. “On the flipside, our citizens’ security is a priority now, especially when armed people and those neo-fascists activists walk free on the streets.”
Among the challenges Ukraine needs to deal with, Dobkin cites the country’s foreign policy.
“The country’s image was hurt by the previous government’s policy, “ Dobkin said, adding that now Ukraine has “to follow multi-vector policy, which means closer cooperation ties both with the European Union countries and (Russian-led) Customs Union as well, because only such approach can help Ukraine’s economy,” Dobkin explained.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at [email protected].
