Ukrainian Presidential Hopeful Zelenskiy Opposes War On Oligarchs As People May Lose Jobs

Umer Jamshaid Published March 22, 2019 | 12:08 AM

Ukrainian presidential hopeful, comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, believes that the Ukrainian authorities should not wage war against the oligarchs, who own most of the enterprises in the country, because it may lead to loss of jobs and rise of unemployment

KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st March, 2019) Ukrainian presidential hopeful, comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, believes that the Ukrainian authorities should not wage war against the oligarchs, who own most of the enterprises in the country, because it may lead to loss of jobs and rise of unemployment.

"If you go hard today on them [oligarchs], people will simply lose jobs and yet another Maidan [revolution] will be in the country," Zelenskiy said in an interview with a number of media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Bloomberg, Spiegel, the Economist, Le Figaro, Atlantic Council and Kyivpost. The interview was published on his Youtube channel.

According to Zelenskiy, the oligarchs should not influence political processes and media in Ukraine.

"They should not influence the political processes in any way, and a serious talk to them is needed.

This is a tough rule for them to say: they cannot influence, they cannot buy parties, this is a crime ... Definitely no influence on media, on the information landscape in the country," he said.

The comedian is believed to be backed by billionaire Ihor Kolomoyskyi, former governor of Dnipropetrovsk Region and owner of the 1+1 broadcaster, which runs Zelenskiy's shows. The showman acknowledges business ties with Kolomoyskyi, but denies his political backing.

The presidential election in Ukraine is scheduled for March 31. The Ukrainian Election Commission has registered 39 candidates for this year's race. Zelenskiy remains the front-runner in the race, according to fresh polls released earlier this week. He is followed by foremer Ukrainian Prime Minister and leader of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party Yulia Tymoshenko and incumbent President Petro Poroshenko.