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Today marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Viktor Chernomyrdin, a very good friend of Ukraine and a great patriot of Russia, a man who did a lot to ensure that our peoples and countries live in peace and harmony.
I very often recall Viktor Stepanovich, his wisdom and human charm. I was fortunate to be in close touch with this politician and diplomat. Unfortunately, in 2014 and in subsequent years, there was no public figure equal to Viktor Chernomyrdin in the sphere of Ukrainian-Russian relations. He knew how to find a way out of the most difficult situations, how to convince, and foresee. And, I am sure, if he were alive, the history of relations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation could develop according to a different scenario.
Today a vessel named after Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin was launched in Saint Petersburg. A worthy perpetuation of his memory! I would very much like Ukraine to begin to honour its real heroes – those who created the glory of the country, contributed to its development, won the Victory, and not collaborators and perpetrators whose main "valour" was willingness to betray and the ability to hate.
“These are sick territories, mentally sick as well. There is an option of complete resection, amputation, or treatment. I am for therapy and full restoration of our body,” said Reznikov, making it clear that he is far from seeking compromises in this matter.
It is noteworthy that such statements are made at a time when the self-proclaimed republics submit their roadmap for resolving the conflict to the Ukrainian side for consideration, and this project has many positive and acceptable points. At the very least, this document could be seen as significant progress in the negotiations. The Ukrainian side had to say its word. If statement by Reznikov is Ukraine's response, then it is the Ukrainian side that now demonstrates its inability to negotiate, in the eyes of the world community.
The foundation for the current conflict was laid by Petro Poroshenko’s regime, by his so-called reform of justice and judicial system. The parliament lost its power to dismiss judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine for violation of their oath precisely as a result of changes to the Constitution in 2016. In the course of the so-called “lustration,” many professional lawyers were dismissed, hundreds of courts were dissolved, and “manually managed” puppet judges loyal to the authorities were appointed. Ten out of fifteen judges of the current Constitutional Court of Ukraine were also appointed by Petro Poroshenko’s regime. The politicization of the constitutional justice system is the main reason why the incumbent Constitutional Court, for example, has been unsuccessful in considering the constitutional petition on termination of lustration for more than six years, and the language law petition for more than a year.