FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

Posted On

22
September
2021

Zelensky considers reaction of various political, financial groups to limit their influence in Ukraine as likely version of attempt on Shefir

KYIV. Sept 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky considers the reaction of various political and financial groups to the course and activities of the presidential team to limit their influence in Ukraine as a likely version of the assassination attempt on his assistant Serhiy Shefir.

"There were no such steps in relation to the president’s close people even in a very difficult time after 2014. So, it speaks of a reaction to real changes in the goveenment that we [Zelensky’s team] want to do. And even what we have not yet succeeded in is the direction we have chosen correctly. This suggests that if earlier everything was controlled by different groups, today it is leaving their hands. Therefore, I believe that this is one of the likely versions of what, unfortunately, is happening," Zelensky said in New York on Wednesday.

However, the head of state said "he is not going to blame them [political and financial groups]. We will wait for the investigation," the president said.

According to Zelensky, law enforcement officers will look for the direct perpetrators of the attempted murder of Shefir. "I cannot say with certainty that they will find it. I think they will do everything to find it […]. Now, it seems to me that law enforcement agencies are working much more openly, and for society as well, so no intimidation. You just need to do your job and appropriate conclusions," he said.

The president also said he regards the assassination attempt on Shefir as pressure directly on him. "The current situation is important for me, and not even because he is my friend, although he is a very warm and close friend of mine, that, in principle, in our modern time there are just such attempts, such steps to influence. It is impossible to influence me," he said.