“Today, Zelensky and his circle have consolidated nearly total control over the state. They can manipulate elections, suppress dissent, and imprison whomever they choose. Independent media are officially banned from television and radio airwaves, while opposition and anticorruption activists active online have been threatened with arrest. One man who had exposed corruption involving Presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak’s brother was sent straight to the frontlines, deployed to the most dangerous combat zones, where he died. Another prominent editor whose revelations brought down former Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov for corruption was saved from jail only by the urgent personal intervention of the US Ambassador. Another editor of an independent media outlet that irritates Zelensky was held by conscription officers for 24 hours incommunicado until he ‘found an understanding’ with them and went to the front. A parliamentarian who wrote that Zelensky must recognise he is losing and end the war was arrested for treason within three days and is now in jail, following a ruling from the district court of Kyiv.”