Former deputy mayor of Kherson Roman Holovnia spoke about the events that took place in the Kherson City Council after the first entry of Russian troops into the building.
He said this in an interview with MOST.
According to Holovnia, during the occupiers’ first visit to the city council they took the mayor Ihor Kolykhaiev.
“The mayor was gone for about two hours. He returned with a frightened face,” recalls Holovnia.
After his return, according to Holovnia, Kolykhaiev gathered the officials present and announced the position on the further work of the city authorities.
“He gathered everyone who was there and said: “Yes, we work as we always have, we take care of the city, we take care of the people…” and so on,” he said.
Holovnia also noted that after this, the Russian military began making inquiries about the functioning of the city.
At the same time, the former deputy mayor emphasized that he does not intend to make direct accusations against Kolykhaiev, but expressed doubts about the public rhetoric of the city authorities during that period.
“I should note, I don’t want to say anything against Kolykhaiev. I simply don’t like hypocrisy. They tell me: “We are for the people.” But I don’t see that. I saw that when the Russians were already in Kherson there was some coercion, some agreements,” said Roman Holovnia.