Scandal after death: Bezuhla and the Vice Speaker of the Rada quarrel over a post about Rushchyshyn
26 July 07:53
MP from the Servant of the People party Mariana Bezuhla has once again found herself at the center of a scandal, this time over her Facebook post about the death of MP Yaroslav Rushchyshyn. Her post drew harsh criticism from both her parliamentary colleagues and social media users, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
What Bezuhla wrote
In her post, Bezuhla wrote that the MP’s death was just an “observation” and devalued his activities in the Verkhovna Rada.
“As for how he got to the parliament, he did not distinguish himself with anything special, he was neither heard nor seen. During the full-scale war, he did not raise any defense issues. He supported Umerov. But he blocked the rostrum on NABU,” the MP noted.
She also pointed out that Rushchyshyn did not die at the front, but during a night ride on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which, in her words, is “risky behavior with the corresponding consequences.”
“He died not in combat, but while riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle at night. He crashed into a tractor. Risky behavior with a corresponding consequence. The curfew does not apply to MPs,” she said.
Bezuhla directly reproached the deceased for not mobilizing:
“If he had mobilized or advocated for army reform, he would have been many times more useful as a soldier or politician, I think. And so… I feel sorry for the man, of course, but no more than for our defenders at the front who are now serving in the unreformed army without any terms of service. May he rest in peace. My condolences to the family and friends.”
Reaction of the deputies: “You are an animal”
The publication caused massive outrage among both citizens and politicians. Most accuse Bezugla of lacking empathy, humanity and basic ethics.
Social media users and other MPs pointed out that Bezugla, instead of expressing sympathy, immediately turned to a public assessment of the deceased’s life, and did so in an extremely harsh manner.
“Your post is a corpse eating. And you’re doing it more and more often,” and “Mariana, this is terribly unethical,” social media users wrote.
The MP’s post caused an instant wave of criticism from her colleagues.
Some of the victim’s colleagues were openly outraged, calling Bezuhla’s behavior immoral. Her statements were actively criticized on social media, and fellow party members of the deceased Yaroslav Rushchyshyn called Bezuhla an “animal.”
Bezuhla’s quarrel with Kondratyuk
Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk called on Bezuhla to stop such rhetoric.
“Mariana, stop! Just stop! ” she wrote, condemning the tone and content of Bezuhla’s post.
But in response, she not only did not apologize, but turned to personal accusations:
“Olena Kondratyuk, what did I say wrong here? Do you consider your life more valuable than the life of a soldier? What have you, as the Vice Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, done for the defense? You are a co-organizer of a women’s feminist forum, but you are silent about the mobilization of women… Why are you silent about the terms of service?”
Kondratiuk responded sharply:
“People will appreciate my actions and deeds! Yours too! Just stopping and not writing bullshit is also an act. Especially for you!”
However, Bezugla did not stop. She once again publicly addressed Kondratiuk with a question:
“So why are you silent about women’s mobilization, leading feminist initiatives and being a leading figure in the leadership of the Parliament?”
What is known about Rushchyshyn’s death
As a reminder, MP Yaroslav Rushchyshyn was killed in a nighttime accident when he crashed his motorcycle into agricultural machinery.
The police are investigating the circumstances of the accident.
He is remembered in the parliament as an active representative of the public sector, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Lviv Business School, and a public figure during the Revolution on Granite.
By the way, MP Mariana Bezuhla spoke cynically about the man whose body was found under the rubble after the shelling of a high-rise building in Kyiv on June 17. According to her, he was “running away from the army” and this is his karma.
