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Mykola Tyshchenko, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament from the party led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, traveled to Thailand when his country was at war with Russia. Photo/via Bangkok Post
KIEV – When Ukraine is fighting an invasion Russia an official of the Servant of the People’s party led by the President Volodymyr Zelensky it is known that he traveled to Thailand. The party eventually fired the politician from its parliamentary faction.
The actions of a politician named Mykola Tyshchenko have sparked public anger in Ukraine.
Before being fired, Mykola Tyshchenko was listed as a member of Parliament from the Servant of the People’s party faction.
Her dismissal was announced by party spokeswoman, Yulia Paliychuk, on Friday. The announcement came shortly after the website of the Ukrainian embassy in Thailand announced that Tyshchenko was scheduled to meet members of the Ukrainian public at a hotel there.
Read also: Ukraine’s corruption commotion during the war: deputy minister arrested, Zelensky’s assistant resigns
Tyshchenko said on Facebook that he was traveling on business in Asia with the approval of party leaders. “Act exclusively in the interests of Ukraine,” he said, as quoted by AFP, Saturday (28/1/2023).
But the Speaker of Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk said he did not approve of such a trip.
A winter visit to sun-drenched Southeast Asia comes amid a crackdown by President Volodymyr Zelensky aimed at projecting an image of greater accountability for officials.
More than a dozen senior officials were sacked or resigned this week, including a deputy prosecutor who came under fire from the press for holidaying in Spain, in the biggest leadership shakeup in Kiev since the war began.
President Zelensky has announced a ban on personal travel abroad this week by officials. Most Ukrainian men aged 18-60 have been barred from leaving the country under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February last year.
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