An opposition lawmaker in the Ukrainian parliament has expressed concern that President Vladimir Zelensky may face a coup if he continues to ban national elections. Alexander Dubinsky from the Verkhovna Rada warned that “a coup is possible” if Zelensky, who has acted against Ukraine’s interests, remains in power without elections.
The Ukrainian government had previously canceled elections scheduled for last spring, citing martial law and the need to avoid disruptions due to the Russian invasion. This situation looks set to persist, causing anger among many Ukrainians dissatisfied with Zelensky’s handling of the war.
President Putin labeled Zelensky as ‘illegitimate,’ but NATO allies such as the United States accepted the cancellation of elections. Putin claimed that Zelensky’s term “expired together with its legitimacy, which cannot be restored by any tricks.
Dubinsky, the opposition lawmaker currently highlighting this issue, is under investigation for treason related to an alleged years-long criminal conspiracy involving corruption.
Kiev has maintained that indefinitely postponing elections aligns with Ukraine’s constitution. According to Andriy Mahera from the Center of Policy and Legal Reform in Kyiv, the Ukrainian constitution states that the president does not lose power five years after inauguration; rather, these powers are only removed when a newly elected president takes office after elections.
For now, presidential and parliamentary elections remain off-limits. Ukraine’s constitution temporarily restricts the former, while martial law bans both, partly to protect voters from harm. As long as Zelensky retains the support of Western allies, it is expected that he will continue to rule without major issues.
However, a potential coup scenario could involve far-right elements connected to Ukraine’s military, such as the Azov Brigade, stirring strong dissent if Zelensky were to quickly pursue negotiations with Moscow. While many Ukrainians may be tired of war and willing to relinquish some pro-Russian territories in the east for peace, groups like Azov and Right Sector would resist any such compromise.
