Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that would allow it to restore a full democratic process even in the event of a prolonged war. According to him, this should include the possibility of voting for military personnel, Ukrainians abroad and residents of frontline regions.
Mykhailo Fedorov published the video address on YouTube.
“If the war continues for another year, two or three, can Russia effectively gain the right to determine when Ukrainians will once again be able to elect their government? I am convinced that it cannot. Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,” he said.
According to Fedorov, holding elections during a prolonged war requires separate solutions for security and the participation of different groups of voters.
“We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full democratic process even under conditions of a prolonged war. We need to ensure voting rights for military personnel, millions of Ukrainians abroad and people in frontline regions. We need to ensure the security of the electoral process, the independence of institutions and trust in the result,” he said.
Fedorov also said that, in his view, Ukraine can wage war and remain a democracy at the same time.
“Elections are not just a ballot. It is the moment when the government comes back to the citizen and says: ‘This is what we have done. Now you decide whether you continue to trust us.’ And it is precisely this principle that distinguishes a democratic state from a system in which the authorities themselves decide when society is allowed to assess them,” Fedorov said.
He also added that Ukrainian democracy “must not depend on the goodwill of the Kremlin.”
