Kharkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes has said he is ready to answer for his words and actions.
“I’m ready and waiting for various insinuations, lots of different
gossip and rumors that will lead to such processes as opening criminal
investigations. But today I’m ready to answer for all my actions and
words,” Kernes said during a briefing at Kharkiv International Airport
on Sunday.
He said that it was the current legal system that he was ready to answer to – not to “revolutionary desire.”
“Because when I read that Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov is
writing that he has a lot of questions for me, [I say] he’s had a lot of
questions for me for many years. If there are any substantial
questions, I’m ready to answer to them as according to the Criminal
Procedure Code. As for revolutionary desires to imprison me or do
something like that, I will defend myself by all legal means,” Kernes
said.
The Kharkiv mayor said he accepted the victory of the revolution but called for the stabilizing of the situation.
“The revolution has in fact happened, and that’s it. Both the
revolution and the Maidan – they have won. To know who will benefit from
this – we must look into the future. That’s why I suggest that today
all the levels of the authorities work in the interests of the people of
our country and not in the interests of political forces. As for the
integrity of Ukraine’s territory, this is a task for all levels of the
authorities, not only for the new government,” Kernes said during the
briefing at the Kharkiv International Airport on Sunday.
“The confrontation has ended. There’s already a formed government at
the level of the state, several ministers, Verkhovna Rada Chairman and
the array of laws being developed; and we will work. All other slogans,
propaganda some other clashes are what I’m against,” the mayor added.
According to him, he hasn’t contacted the new government yet. Kernes
thinks it’s important to stabilize the situation with cooperative
efforts right now.
“After the elections, when I was voted mayor, I said that the winners
were never to blame, and I stand by it… Any winner will multiply his
victory if he turns his enemies into friends… I think that right now
we need to stabilize the situation all together, regardless of who’s in
power today and who’s in the opposition today; it’s very important for
me that life … will be stable in my favorite city, my native city, with
its 1.5-million population. That’s why I’m going to do my job as long as
I’m trusted to,” Kernes said.
Answering the question of whether he would carry out the laws adopted
by the Verkhovna Rada, Kharkiv mayor said, “The laws currently passed
by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will be evaluated more than once, by
the Constitutional court including… Within the current legal system I
will follow all the laws adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, if falling
within my competence, the authorities or regional local administration
agencies. If the law has been adopted and it hasn’t been appealed
against, revoked by the Constitutional court or ruled unconstitutional, I
will carry it out.”
He claims he has been receiving a lot of threats lately, but he won’t “hide behind anyone’s back.”
“During last few days, when the culmination of the whole power
shifting process took place, I was receiving hundreds of threats of a
very different character. As for my safety, it’s my personal matter.
Also I think it’s a job for the law enforcement agencies… I won’t hide
behind anyone’s back. I’m a grown man. If it’s God’s will, I’ll turn 55
in June,” Kernes said.
