Odessa’s expatriate mayor now under house arrest

War in Ukraine

Odessa’s expatriate mayor now under house arrest

First, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj withdraws the citizenship of the mayor of Odessa. Now the former town hall boss is under house arrest and the port city is under military administration.

A court in Ukraine has placed city hall chief Hennadij Trukhanov in the Black Sea metropolis of Odessa, who was expatriated by President Volodymyr Zelensky, under house arrest. The judge also ruled that the former mayor had to wear an electronic ankle bracelet in light of allegations of negligence in flood protection in the port city, as reported by the Telegram channel of the public television “Suspilne”. Trukhanov speaks of a politically motivated case against him.

Nine people died in flooding after a storm on September 30th in the port city that has been repeatedly attacked by Russia. Trukhanov and other city administration employees, who are constantly struggling with the consequences of war, are accused of failing to protect against flooding. Trukhanov rejects this.

The city, which Zelensky has now placed under military administration, is led by former intelligence general Serhiy Lyssak. Zelensky had previously revoked the citizenship of the previously responsible and elected mayor of Odessa. Trukhanov is said to have a Russian passport. The politician rejects the allegations. With the loss of citizenship, the elected head of the city was effectively removed from office.

Zelensky had complained that many security questions in Odessa had remained unanswered under Trukhanov. He did not give specific details, but promised stronger protection and more support. Trukhanov, who repeatedly condemned Russia for the many attacks on Odessa, had been mayor of the city of over a million people since 2014.

Zelensky’s critics complain that the president is appointing more and more elected representatives to a military administration with his confidants. Due to the current martial law, there are currently no elections in the country – not even at the local level. Ukraine has been resisting the Russian invasion for more than three and a half years.