Ukraine's former defense minister demands elections: "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia"

Ukraine's former defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has publicly demanded that a presidential election be held even amidst the ongoing war with Russia. This bold move comes shortly after his dismissal from the post by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an action that has ignited protests across Ukraine.

Fedorov, who was removed from his position recently, stated that the country is experiencing a "crisis of governance." He asserted that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia" and called for the development of a "legal, safe and realistic mechanism" to allow Ukraine to conduct its democratic processes despite the protracted war.

The demand for a wartime election is significant as Ukrainian law currently prohibits such political activities during martial law. Fedorov's call represents the first major challenge to President Zelenskyy's leadership since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

His dismissal from the Defense Ministry has been met with public outcry, leading to demonstrations in Kyiv. These protests have shown support for Fedorov and have put pressure on the government, highlighting a potential division or dissatisfaction within the country regarding leadership decisions during wartime.

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Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia.