“Blinken did not intercede, but strongly recommended.” Why the US Helped Poroshenko Avoid SIZO

Pechersky District Court of Kiev chose the softest possible measure of restraint to the fifth President of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity party, Petro Poroshenko. The site “Today” found out the circumstances and personalities, thanks to which the politician, suspected of committing treason and assisting terrorist organizations, the so-called “LDNR”, was released on personal obligation.

No time for internal fights when the enemy is at the gate

One of the reasons why the court did not send Poroshenko to a pre-trial detention center or under house arrest is the US’s insistent recommendation that the fifth president should be given the mildest possible preventive measure. About this “Today” said political scientist Ruslan Bortnik.

“The West put pressure on the Office of the President with a demand to reduce activity in relation to the criminal prosecution of Poroshenko and not to arrest him. In any case, now, when there is a threat of an invasion of the Russian army into Ukraine,” says Bortnik.

The Pechersk court released Petro Poroshenko on a personal commitment. Photo: press service of the European Solidarity Party

As the political scientist explains, the White House believes that now is not the time to arrange political showdowns and split the people inside the country, at a time when Russian tanks and 100,000-strong military contingent are on the border.

“Ukrainians must be united to defend against a possible invasion by Moscow,” Bortnik explains the US position.

Ruslan Bortnik: “Ukrainians must be united to protect against a possible invasion of Moscow” / Photo: Facebook

Protests could turn into fights

agrees with him political scientist Alexei Yakubin.

“There were a large number of Poroshenko’s supporters near the Pechersky court. If he had been arrested and tried to take him out of court in a paddy wagon, it is likely that fights between protesters and the police would have broken out and it is not known what the confrontation would have escalated into,” says Segodnya Yakubin .

Aleksey Yakubin: “Brawls between protesters and police could break out near the court” / Photo: Facebook

Persistent advice from the West

Political scientist Vadim Karasev adds that on the day when the court session in the Poroshenko case was held, he arrived in Kiev US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

“I don’t think that Blinken personally stood up for Poroshenko or demanded that suspicions be removed from him, but putting the case on pause in order to reduce the degree of tension against the backdrop of the threat of war with Russia is quite possibly recommended,” says Karasev.

On the day when the Poroshenko trial was held, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Kiev. Photo: US Embassy in Ukraine

In addition, according to him, Poroshenko has quite strong support among politicians in European countries. Arresting the fifth president would mean for Zelensky not only to spoil relations with America, but also to turn part of Europe against him.

“Today, Ukraine cannot afford to quarrel with Western partners. Ukraine needs the help of its allies to secure its borders. But the Poroshenko case is not closed! There will still be new trials and new sentences,” Karasev concluded.

Vadim Karasev: “Poroshenko’s case is not closed! There will be new trials and new sentences” / Photo: Facebook

Earlier, the Segodnya website found out for what other reasons the court turned out to be loyal to the fifth president of Ukraine and why it did not impose a severe preventive measure on the politician suspected of treason.

Recall that Petro Poroshenko was declared suspected on December 20. Not the last role in this was played by “Medvedchuk’s tapes”. He is charged with high treason and assistance in the activities of terrorist organizations “DNR” and “LNR”.

On January 17, the court at the first meeting could not choose a measure of restraint for Poroshenko, the decision on the case was postponed to January 19, 14:00.