Authorities want to rule Kyiv "from above" – Klitschko comments on attempts of head of Kyiv City Military Administration to take away powers of mayor

The central authorities seek to directly rule Kyiv through people appointed "from above", and not elected by Kyiv residents. This is how the mayor of the capital, Vitali Klitschko, commented on the order of the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko, by which he actually gave himself the right to approve the appointment of all employees of the city hall, including the deputy mayors.

"Self-government is an independent institution. And the power vertical is now trying to do everything to manage local self-government. About 200 mayors have already been removed from their duties, and their powers have been transferred to military administrations. At the same time, we are fighting today to build a European democratic country. But fighting for democratic values ​​and destroying them at the same time stinks of authoritarianism. If this continues, then Kyiv will be governed by a person appointed "from above", and not one whom the people of Kyiv elected in the elections," Vitali Klitschko said on the air of the Kyiv TV channel.

He emphasized that Tymur Tkachenko's order is legally null and void, since there are no legal grounds for the head of the Kyiv City Administration to receive the powers of the mayor of Kyiv.

"It's the same as if I issue an order to coordinate appointments with me in the Cabinet of Ministers or in other state institutions. There is a law on local self-government, there is a law on the city of Kyiv, and there are no legal grounds for such powers of the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. The order of the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration indicates incompetence, and possibly even direct abuse of power. And it is, in its essence, legally null and void," said Vitali Klitschko.

He called on employees of the Kyiv City Hall not to carry out the illegal instructions of the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration.

"I would like to emphasize that all officials must act within the framework of current legislation. And I urge you not to carry out any illegal decisions, so as not to bear responsibility later - both administrative and criminal. Because this is a direct violation of the law," Vitali Klitschko emphasized.

As a reminder, yesterday, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko, issued order No. 1019, which gave him the right to coordinate the appointment of all employees of the Executive Body of the Kyiv City Council: from the chief specialist to the deputies of the Kyiv City Mayor. By the same document, he obliged him to coordinate even the appointment and dismissal of the first deputies and deputy heads of district state administrations in the city of Kyiv.

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