Boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klytschko becomes Mayor of Kyiv
- 10 years ago
Famous boxer and leader of the UDAR party Vitali Klytschko has been sworn in as Mayor of Kyiv.
The ceremony was held in one of the government buildings Maidan protesters occupied last winter.
On accepting the position, Klytschko promised transparency from authorities in Kyiv and pledged to fight corruption
“Changes in our country will begin with the capital, Kyiv,” he announced. “Unfortunately, I’m inheriting the position at a challenging time. Kyiv has been robbed for a long time.”
Sixty councillors elected in the May vote were also sworn in.
A crowd of local citizens gathered outside the state administration to watch the ceremony.
Euronews spoke to some of them.
“We expect Kyiv citizens’ lives to be normalised, said one man. “We want everything to be in accordance with the law. Vitali Klytschko announced a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and all citizens of not just Kyiv but Ukraine support this.”
“What should he do?”, asked one woman. “Kyiv is a demonstrative city and Klytschko shouldn’t let separatism come here. He should get Maidan in order, but not disperse it. But, the main problems we have now are not in our city, but in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east.”
With Ukraine looking to its capital, Klytschko will be expected to set the wheels in motion to re-organise the Maidan protest movement as quickly and peacefully as possible.
The ceremony was held in one of the government buildings Maidan protesters occupied last winter.
On accepting the position, Klytschko promised transparency from authorities in Kyiv and pledged to fight corruption
“Changes in our country will begin with the capital, Kyiv,” he announced. “Unfortunately, I’m inheriting the position at a challenging time. Kyiv has been robbed for a long time.”
Sixty councillors elected in the May vote were also sworn in.
A crowd of local citizens gathered outside the state administration to watch the ceremony.
Euronews spoke to some of them.
“We expect Kyiv citizens’ lives to be normalised, said one man. “We want everything to be in accordance with the law. Vitali Klytschko announced a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and all citizens of not just Kyiv but Ukraine support this.”
“What should he do?”, asked one woman. “Kyiv is a demonstrative city and Klytschko shouldn’t let separatism come here. He should get Maidan in order, but not disperse it. But, the main problems we have now are not in our city, but in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east.”
With Ukraine looking to its capital, Klytschko will be expected to set the wheels in motion to re-organise the Maidan protest movement as quickly and peacefully as possible.