Stress Test for Freedom: How Ukraine Resists the Pull of Russian Authoritarianism

Source: Author’s Facebook page

I don’t personally know Vitaliy Shabunin, Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, or Bohdan Butkevych — but I do know what civil resistance means. I’ve worked under three Ukrainian presidents and stood on three Maidans as a citizen, not a bystander.

Authoritarianism doesn’t arrive overnight — it creeps in gradually, until the stench becomes impossible to ignore.

The temptation to solve every problem through repression is nothing new. Power, by its very nature, leans in that direction.

Only strong safeguards can hold it back: a real balance of power, an independent and capable judiciary, a strong parliament, professional and free media, and an active civil society. When these safeguards weaken, the temptation grows stronger.

I want to share my perspective on what I see happening now: Ukraine is facing another test—whether Russian-style authoritarianism can take root here. And someone is skillfully setting up President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take the blame.

This was predictable. The enemy is systematically working to destabilize Ukraine from within while ramping up external pressure.

In these circumstances, we must be extremely careful with our assessments to avoid “giving the enemy ammunition,” but at the same time, we must be honest and united. Silence is not an option!

It cannot become a situation where “the law applies only to the loyal, and punishment only to their opponents.”

“Unity” cannot be declared by words alone; certain actions can drive society—and the whole nation—apart.

Without strong internal safeguards to protect democracy, Ukraine’s society is at risk!

A smaller authoritarian state will never defeat a larger one.

But it won’t happen here. Ukraine will not become an authoritarian police state. Our recent history has proven this time and again!

As a reminder, on July 11, the State Bureau of Investigation conducted searches at the home of Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Center. The SBI claims that for a long time, he did not appear at his place of duty, receive a salary, and used a car intended for the military. Subsequently, SBI officers reported the Ukrainian activist to the police on suspicion of evasion of duty and fraud.

The Anti-Corruption Center commented on the searches, stating that Zelensky is building a corrupt authoritarianism during martial law, and the cases against Shabunin are a show of force to demonstrate that the authorities can do anything to anyone in the country, no matter how absurd it may seem. The CPC team suggests that this could have happened because of criticism of the Office of the President and Andriy Yermak personally.

As the People’s Deputy from the “European Solidarity” Sofia Fedyna stated on the air of “Pryamyi”, the President’s Office announced a hunt for public activists, the opposition, and military personnel who criticize the current government, involving the State Bureau of Investigation in the persecution, which has already turned into “Bankova’s tame hyena.”

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