“Ready to win the election against Zelensky’s ‘puppet’”. Main points from Gennady Kernes’ interview

We retell the interview with the mayor of Kharkiv in several paragraphs.

Amid a public conflict with the new governor of Kharkiv Oblast Oleksiy Kucher, Kharkiv Mayor Gennady Kernes gave a large interview to the online publication Strana, where he talked about his physical condition, the assassination attempt, his impressions of the new regional governor Oleksiy Kucher, relations with Mikhail Dobkin and readiness for early local elections. The TK Media editorial team prepared a brief summary.

On his physical condition. I feel good. I understand that I am a person with limited abilities from a physical standpoint. In terms of capacity to work and effectiveness, as mayor, I am a person with unlimited abilities and opportunities. Six months ago I had an additional surgery in Germany, and a pump was installed that reduces phantom pain in my legs. I also wanted to restore the ability to move my spine, and I did. Now I try to eat on schedule and keep to a routine. I used to be athletic because I moved a lot. Now I get around City Hall in an electric wheelchair, and otherwise I am driven. There has not yet been an obstacle I could not get over. 

On the assassination attempt. I ran 20 km every morning in an hour and a half, after which I plunged into cold water. I received signals that they wanted to eliminate me, but I did not believe it would come from the bushes. Then I heard a bang. “Bubukh,” like something exploding right next to you. I clearly remember that sound and the cold, burning sensation. I only had time to put my hands forward. I realized it was a gunshot only after I fell. There was a burning sensation of pain. Heat and cold all over my body. The bullet took out four vertebrae, pierced my lung twice and my stomach, broke a rib, damaged an adrenal gland and passed through the cauda equina, which is why my legs became paralyzed. Then hallucinations began. I found myself in an otherworldly, unfamiliar world where helicopters and airplanes flew. Some planet, some island. Some women, children and armed men. And, as in a book, there was a transition corridor. I gave some commands and waited for them to be carried out. Six days later I came out of a coma, opened my eyes and saw the silhouette of a man in a hat. I asked him: “What do you want?” He replied that I was in the Holy Land. It was the Rebbe of Haifa. For six days it was being decided whether I would survive or not. 

On relations with Arsen Avakov. We have calmed down [but I still consider him the instigator of the assassination attempt].

On the new governor Oleksiy Kucher. I have never met him. After his appointment I called him myself and suggested a meeting. He refused. Many rumors are circulating [that Kucher is Avakov’s man]. It makes no difference to me whose man he is. He assured the president that he would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But I don't believe he works 24/7. When the new governor understands that Kharkiv is an integral part of Kharkiv Oblast and Ukraine, he will probably want to meet the mayor of this city. Will it be a constructive meeting, or will we just look at each other and part ways? Kucher has been in the city for three weeks, and I do not see what he is specifically doing. In the past, reportedly, he was the key lawyer in the “Avakov backpacks” case, which means there is a connection with Ukraine’s interior minister. What kind of dialogue can we talk about if someone is controlling him? If it is true [that Kucher was installed to obstruct Kernes in the local elections], I will feel it. This tactic was also used under Poroshenko. You cannot live on elections alone. 

On Zelensky’s presentation of the new governor. Governors are usually presented in the regional council hall, where 500 Avakov activists were waiting at the entrance, intending to make a “corridor of shame” for the president. That is why the governor was presented at a closed meeting of Ukroboronprom, just so the president would not see the activists. They created comfortable conditions for the president in the cold so he would not see the people Avakov had gathered near the regional state administration building. I consider the absence [at the event] not only of the mayor and heads of district administrations, but also of university rectors unjustified. This is wrong. I still do not understand, and I am not alone in this, before whom Zelensky presented Kucher. I do not think the president was offended [by Kernes’ Facebook post expressing discontent].

On possible local elections. I am ready for elections at any time of the year. If it happens, I will compete even with the hand that guides Zelensky. If the president brings in a “puppet” and says “elect him, because I brought him,” then I will find a way to compete with him. I understand sociology, and the rating of the “Servant of the People” party is falling. If you go out on the street now and ask various people who they will vote for in the mayoral election, without naming any surnames, guess what they will answer. 

On relations with Mikhail Dobkin. My interests and Mikhail Dobkin’s diverged when he forgot what Kharkiv is. His statements [after the start of his independent political career] did not benefit the city. He just sat on Twitter and took part in all this “crap.” I told him that we are associated with each other, and if he was going to make some key statement, he should first ask me whether I wanted to take part in it. I asked Dobkin to delete Twitter. He listened to me once. Recently he came to see me and said he wanted to ride motorcycles. He came to me wearing a ring, and I asked what it was. He replied that it was a special biker sign. He simply understands that the roads in Kharkiv are good and he can ride a motorcycle.