Former deputy Zakharkiv explains departure abroad as official business trip and disability status

Background for public reaction

Yaroslav Zakharkiv, who left the country three years ago and only then resigned his mandate as a deputy of the Ternopil Oblast Council, decided to explain his position. The trigger was publications by a local blogger who accused the former deputy of fleeing Ukraine during the war. According to the blogger, this was facilitated by the incumbent deputy head of the oblast council, Ihor Sopel, who allegedly arranged a foreign business trip from the oblast council.

The former head of the "Servant of the People" faction in the oblast council published a response, while blocking the ability to comment on his post.

Legal aspects of the departure

In his statement, Zakharkiv noted that he had consciously not reacted to publications about himself for almost two years, but believes it is time to provide clarification. He emphasised that his departure from Ukraine in December 2023 took place on legal grounds within the framework of an official business trip.

Separately, the former deputy drew attention to his medical status. «Ще на початку 2023 року я отримав посвідчення особи з інвалідністю у зв’язку з вродженою особливістю здоров’я — відсутністю однієї нирки. Це не захворювання, яке виникло напередодні мого виїзду. З цією особливістю я живу від народження, а відповідний статус офіційно оформив лише на початку 2023 року» ("As early as the beginning of 2023, I received a disability certificate due to a congenital health condition — the absence of one kidney. This is not a disease that arose on the eve of my departure. I have lived with this condition since birth, and the corresponding status was officially registered only at the beginning of 2023"), he stressed.

Zakharkiv stressed that at the time of departure, he had a documented disability status, which Ukrainian legislation provided for as one of the grounds for crossing the state border during martial law. Therefore, in his opinion, presenting this story as if the departure became possible solely thanks to the signature of a specific official is, at the very least, not objective.

Position on personal decision

The former deputy argues his position: if he had planned to stay abroad from the very beginning, it would have made no sense to arrange a business trip, as there was another possible legal path — to resign his deputy mandate and leave on the basis of documented disability. That is why he considers it wrong to hold the person who signed the document responsible for his subsequent personal decision.

«Але, на жаль, такі реалії політичного життя. Людина й досі залишається в політиці, а отже, має політичних опонентів. І чому б не використати мою історію як черговий привід, щоб облити її брудом, зокрема через журналістські публікації? На жаль, підлість, підступність, політичні інтриги та відсутність моральних принципів — це також частина політики» ("But, unfortunately, these are the realities of political life. The person is still in politics and therefore has political opponents. And why not use my story as another pretext to smear them, in particular through journalistic publications? Unfortunately, meanness, treachery, political intrigues, and the absence of moral principles are also part of politics"), Zakharkiv wrote.

Comment on professional ethics

Responding to mentions of his brother, Zakharkiv expressed irritation at the transformation of private gossip and unverified information heard "over a drink" into materials that claim to be journalism. He suggested that representatives of this profession more often check not others' biographies, but their own adherence to professional ethics and ability to distinguish facts from fantasies.

Regarding the decision to stay abroad, the former deputy noted that it was not planned in advance. «На момент виїзду я планував повернутися в Україну. Проте життя не завжди розвивається за попереднім планом. Уже під час перебування за кордоном виникли обставини, які в сукупності вплинули на моє подальше рішення. Воно не було простим, але я ухвалив його самостійно й усвідомлено» ("At the time of departure, I planned to return to Ukraine. However, life does not always develop according to a previous plan. Circumstances arose while I was abroad that, in combination, influenced my subsequent decision. It was not an easy one, but I made it independently and consciously"), he added.