Butusov: Attempt on Kernes’s life is linked to shift in his political position

FB Post by Yury Butusov

April 28, 2014

No matter how you view [Kharkiv mayor, Hennadiy] Kernes, the attempt on his life is directly linked with the shift in his political position. For me, Kernes epitomized the criminal lawlessness that took place during the revolution, and for this he should by no means be absolved of responsibility. It is shameful that he was appointed in Kharkiv.

However, in the wake of the Russian invasion threat, his position changed drastically. Indeed, it was Kernes who, following negotiations with [governor of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ihor] Kolomoisky, disbanded the congress of the “First Ukrainian Front,” which was geared at legitimizing the Kremlin-orchestrated split in Ukraine. He and his friend [former governor of Kharkiv Oblast, Mykhailo] Dobkin were among the key figures in the Kremlin’s strategy, and the withdrawal of Kernes from the scheme significantly undermined Russian influence. Kernes should have become a notable player in the pro-Ukrainian movement of authoritative representatives from the south-east region of Ukraine, spanning Kharkiv to Odessa.

The reasons for the assassination attempt on Kernes were as follows:

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Governor: the terrorist acts may happen in Kharkiv

Monday, March 17, 2014, 23:00

The Kharkiv Oblast governor held an emergency meeting concerning ways to avoid destabilization in the region. Interfax-Ukraine reported that the chairman of the State Security Service in the oblast, the oblast prosecutor’s office and the regional branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs attended the closed door meeting. “We have concrete information that there are plans for destabilization in Kharkiv on March 16, within the next few days and possible terrorist acts on the territory of the city,” Baluta said answering the question on the reason of this emergency meeting. 

Kernes convinced Kharkiv will support Ukrainian statehood

The mayor of Kharkiv Hennady Kernes is sure that the vast majority of Kharkiv residents will support Ukrainian statehood, he said in an interview with the publication “Komersant-Ukraine.”

“Our people consider themselves citizens of Ukraine. In eastern Ukraine they consider Russia a fellow nation. From time immemorial we have been linked by family ties and trade relations, especially in Kharkiv — a border city. But I am confident that the vast majority here, including Ukrainians, will advocate for Ukrainian statehood.”

Lutsenko: SBU Opens Criminal Cases against Dobkin and Kernes

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has opened criminal cases against Kharkiv mayor Hennadiy Kernes and Kharkiv Oblast governor Mykhaylo Dobkin, said former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko from the Maidan stage, reports the newspaper Segodia.

“I talked to some high-ranking SBU officials, and they said that the cases against Kernes and Dobkin were opened based on their separatist statements,” said the civic activist.