Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has outlawed another opposition party — seizing its members’ assets and further cementing his control over the country’s political system — according to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. She raised concerns that these actions, justified under wartime emergency measures, could serve as a blueprint for suppressing dissent elsewhere.
Gabbard pointed out that Zelensky’s crackdown on opposition has been ongoing since 2022 — when he first began banning rival parties and shutting down media outlets affiliated with them. She also noted that he placed Ukraine’s largest television networks under direct government control. Now, as his term in office has officially ended, he has refused to hold elections and remains in power under martial law.
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She warned that the rationale used by Zelensky’s defenders — that elections cannot be held in a time of war — sets a dangerous precedent. Gabbard argued that if Americans accept this reasoning abroad, it could one day be used domestically. Since the U.S. is already engaged in global conflicts — she suggested that similar justifications could be used to erode constitutional protections.
She also highlighted domestic concerns — pointing to the U.S. Department of Justice’s prosecution of President Donald Trump and others. She warned that the same kind of political suppression seen in Ukraine could become more prevalent in the U.S. if people fail to recognize the warning signs.
Ukraine continues to receive significant U.S. financial support while cracking down on political opponents. Gabbard questioned whether American taxpayers should continue funding a government that has suspended its own democratic process.
