Ukraine Security Official Shoved By Member of Right-Wing Group

Serhiy Sivokho, a former comedian and current advisor to the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council secretary, fell after being pushed by a member of National Corps, a right-wing organization active in the country. The conflict occurred during the presentation of the National Platform for Reconciliation and Unity, a political initiative launched by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy aimed at developing a plan for the political reintegration of the Donbas.

A Hromadske correspondent present at the scene said that the presentation was interrupted a little less than an hour in, as veterans of the right-wing Azov regiment and National Corps activists barged into the presentation hall. The activists began arguing with Sivokho, which ended in a National Corps member pushing the official as he tried to leave, causing Sivokho to fall to the ground.

Law enforcement then took 15 people into custody as a result. Around 50 National Corps members later visited the police station where they were being held, though the members were still charged with “hooliganism”.
The National Corps also submitted a statement to the Security Service of Ukraine accusing the official of treason, citing one of Sivokho’s earlier comments, where the official seemed to indicate that he considers the Donbas conflict to be an “internal matter.”

The National Corps statement alleges that Sivokho’s comments are “illegal”, and calls for the Security Service to open an investigation into the official.

Sivokho’s statement on the incident criticized the National Corps position, saying that “some people don’t want peace, they want war, because war is business and big money,” and added that the reconciliation platform would continue its work.