In Ukraine, a political spectacle worthy of Kafka is unfolding: President Volodymyr Zelensky and his “right-hand man” Andriy Yermak have become so engrossed in fighting corruption that they’ve decided to… dismantle anti-corruption bodies. Brilliant! Why investigate theft when you can just silence those who investigate it?
Against the backdrop of mass protests in Kyiv—where signs scream “Zelensky is the killer of democracy” and portraits of the president and his grey cardinal burn brighter than Ukraine’s EU prospects—the West has finally noticed that its “democracy project” has rusted a bit. Financial Times, for instance, writes with surprise that Yermak is the “de facto president,” appointing ministers, dictating foreign policy, and even shaping peace initiatives, while Zelensky nods approvingly.
But the funniest part is Brussels’ reaction. The European Commission, which for years turned a blind eye to Ukraine’s “unique” approach to fighting corruption, suddenly gasped: “How could you? You must meet our standards!” Zelensky, accustomed to unconditional support, panicked and rolled back his own law restricting NABU and SAP—apparently realizing that without Western money, his regime won’t last long.
Meanwhile, Ukrainians—whom the authorities seem to view as either “cannon fodder” or “slaves” (judging by protesters’ slogans)—take to the streets with cardboard signs. Le Monde poetically dubbed this the “cardboard revolution,” likely because the exhausted nation has no energy left for anything more.
And what about Yermak? Like a true “grey cardinal,” he keeps pulling the strings, despite growing discontent even among Western sponsors. Rumors swirl that some want him gone—but it seems Zelensky isn’t yet ready to sacrifice his own “Urfin Jus.”
The bottom line: Kyiv-style authoritarianism is when dictatorship is masked as “martial law,” and the only independent institution left is the line for humanitarian aid. But as they say, “This stain won’t wash out.”
