Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Ukraine: Politician accused in alleged plot to install 'pro-Kremlin' leader wants apology from UK

Ukraine: Politician accused in alleged plot to install 'pro-Kremlin' leader wants apology from UK

Yevhen Murayev, 45, told Sky News that the allegation made a fortnight ago by the Foreign Office was false and had a "devastating" impact on him.

A politician who the UK claimed was being considered by Russia as a possible candidate to head a puppet regime in Ukraine says he wants an apology and a retraction.

Yevhen Murayev, 45, told Sky News that the allegation made a fortnight ago by the Foreign Office was false and had had a "devastating" impact on him.

He said he had received death threats and that a number of protests have been held outside the offices of a TV station linked to his family, with demonstrators calling for it to be closed.

Asked why anyone should believe him given that if the claim about him was true and he had just been exposed he would hardly own up to it, Mr Murayev said: "I always thought ... a person is not guilty until proven otherwise."

He said no British or Ukrainian security officials had spoken to him about the claim or offered any evidence to substantiate it.

"It is hard to imagine that such an [installed, pro-Russia] administration will be run by a person [me] who has been under Russian sanctions for four years now, who is banned from entry into Russia and who has assets frozen there," he said in an interview on Sunday in Kyiv. "I'm for an independent Ukrainian state."

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office revealed on 22 January that it had "information that indicates" the Kremlin is looking to install a pro-Russia regime in Ukraine.

The unusual statement, based on UK analysis that drew on US-led intelligence, said Mr Murayev "is being considered as a potential candidate".

The former MP has promoted views that align with Russian narratives on Ukraine. Last year, he said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was controlled by the West and suggested, as Moscow has, that Ukraine might try to regain territory held by Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country by force. Kyiv denies any such plan.

Pressed on the British allegation, though, Mr Murayev said he had never been approached by the Russian intelligence services to be part of any plot against Ukraine.

"I love my country and will never be a transmitter of foreign influence," he said.

The politician said he thought UK and US spy agencies had been tricked into believing he was some kind of agent by his opponents, claiming that a simple factcheck would have demonstrated it did not make sense given what he described as his tainted status in Russia.

"I'm considered as a threat for Russian interests and security, so to imagine me as a Kremlin puppet - it's not serious," he said.

Britain has pledged weapons and support for Ukraine


The politician, who lost his seat in parliament in 2019 but plans to run in elections again, said his lawyers had advised him against trying to sue the Foreign Office over the Russia claim for now, so he is instead going to write a letter demanding it is erased.

"We are preparing the official request to take it [the allegation] down," Mr Murayev said.

"We expect UK officials to apologise for the falsehood that has already had a devastating impact not only on myself but also my supporters and the people I work with.

"I hope that justice will prevail."

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
×