Putin Critics Wary of Candidate for Russian Ambassador to Ukraine

Russian opposition politicians have warned President Poroshenko that agreeing to Mikhail Babich as Russian Ambassador to Ukraine is a risk. Former Russian MP Illya Ponomaryov and political emigrant Olga Kurnosova stated this during a press conference in Kyiv, UNIAN informs.

According to Kurnosova, the dismissal of former Ambassador Mikhail Zurabov might mean that Putin is counting on snap elections in Ukraine. And for this, he needs a diplomat who has no informal relations with top Ukrainian politicians like Zurabov had.

"It might mean that Putin doesn’t need the personal contacts which Zurabov had with Poroshenko anymore," she said.

She noted that Babich was a former military leader and governor of the Chechen Republic. He is not a person who can prove helpful as a diplomat, she asserted. Appointing a military figure as an Ambassador when an undeclared war is underway is like a kick in the teeth, Kurnosova highlighted.

Ponomaryov added that Babich has experience of ballot rigging in Russia. If Ukraine agrees to this appointment, it will face a "real spy ring to coordinate Russian intelligence and organize an election campaign for the benefit of Russia." His appointment may symbolize that Russia is preparing for snap elections in Ukraine, Ponomaryov claims.

Both Russian politicians called on President Poroshenko to refuse this appointment.

On July 28, Putin dismissed Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov. On the next day, Russia was reported to request Ukraine’s agreement to Mikhail Babich’s appointment as the new Ambassador, while the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine denied the receipt of such a request.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda