Rybchinsky emphasized that in the elections between Yanukovych and the future third president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, he supported and rooted for Yushchenko. He believes that among both Yanukovych voters and Yushchenko supporters there were those who supported candidates for money, but there were also those who sincerely believed in the promises of politicians.
“Why are those who were – and I was with Yushchenko – better than those who were on the side. Excuse me, why are those who are with the Democrats good people, and if they are with the Republicans, then… This is a normal phenomenon of a multi-party system,” the poet shared.
He added that millions of Ukrainians voted for Yanukovych.
“Am I supposed to consider these Ukrainians my enemies?” added Rybchinsky. “I don’t like Yanukovych, but until he came to power, he had the right to go, and they had the legal and constitutional right [голосовать]. They were never criminals to me.”
Context
Yanukovych was elected President of Ukraine in 2010. He escaped from Ukraine in 2014, after the Revolution of Dignity.
IN January 2019 Obolonsky District Court of Kyiv found him guilty in absentia of high treason and complicity in waging aggressive war and sentenced to 13 years in prison. In April 2025, the Podolsk District Court of Kyiv sentenced Yanukovych to up to 15 years in prison for organizing the illegal transfer of persons across the state border of Ukraine and inciting desertion.
