As the fighting escalates in Ukraine, with Russian forces within striking distance of the center of Kiev, and the international community believes Moscow wants to overthrow the government, analysts point to a possible replacement for President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to a Newsweek report, if Vladimir Putin gains full control of Ukraine in the near future, he is likely to appoint a leader to implement his plan. As of now, the Russian-born Ukrainian oligarch, Viktor Medvedchuk, is Putin's most likely choice for the position of Ukraine's head of state.
Who is Medvedchuk
Medvedchuk, 59, is a Russian-born lawyer who served as head of government in Ukraine under the presidency of Leonid Kuchma from 2002 to 2005.
He is the former head of Ukraine's Social Democratic Party. Medvedchuk is a supporter of pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. Putin, in fact, is godfather to Medvedchuk's daughter Darya. Her godmother is Sviatlana Medvedeva, the wife of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Medvedchuk is under house arrest in the north of Kiev as he faces charges of supporting separatist forces. The Russian invasion could put him back in the spotlight as Putin falsely accuses Ukraine of committing "genocide" against ethnic Russians.
"I believe that he would be Putin's choice"
"I believe that if Putin had the choice, he (Medvedchuk) would be his choice. And it is very likely that Putin will choose a leader for Ukraine. Even if he wasn't number one, he may be the real number one, Even if they put some other figure in there, he will be the real number one," Jarro Bilocherkovich, an expert on Ukraine and Russia at the University of Dayton, told Newsweek.
Bilotserkovich said Medvedchuk's pro-Russian positions combined with his anti-European and anti-Western stances make him an attractive candidate for a Russian government that wants to limit NATO's influence. Moreover, his deep personal relationship with Putin will play an important role when Moscow makes its decision.
In addition to his deep connections to Russia, Bilocherkovich noted that Medvedchuk's involvement in oil projects and his established relationships with Russian business leaders would allow him to further link Ukraine's economy to Russia's, which is another advantage for Putin. Medvedchuk's business activities could also advance Russia's narrative.
And former channel owner
Medvedchuk owned three TV stations in Ukraine, which were shut down by Zelensky.
"He controls a significant number of media outlets, which makes him even more valuable to the Kremlin," says Andrew Lochsen, a fellow in the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "It is impossible for him to try to create his image as Ukraine's legitimate leader, but he has a significant advantage in trying to undermine support for Ukrainian sovereignty from within," he added."
Medvedchuk is believed to own at least three television stations, which he shut down by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Lochsen also said that given Russia's tendency to manage its narratives through media propaganda, Medvedchuk's media expertise could prove invaluable.
Source: in.gr
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