Popular rock star, Orange Revolution hero resigns from Rada

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, a famous rock musician and a hero of the Orange Revolution, resigned from parliament in disgut with the nation's politics.

The never­-ending absurdity of Ukrainian politics is becoming too exhausting and frustrating not only for common Ukrainians, but for the show participants themselves. Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, a famous rock musician and member of pro­presidential Our Ukraine­People’s Self­Defense faction in parliament, resigned as a deputy on Sept. 11.

“Political life in the state has narrowed down to the ruthless fight for power. Not only moral principles, but national interests, to which politicians of all colors and camps frequently appeal, have become victims of this clash,” Vakarchuk said in a statement. “Under such circumstances, the only way to be yourself is to leave. To stay means escape for me, escape from accountability before the people, and to break my oath of faithfulness to the people.”

Vakarchuk’s statement came soon after a new round of tag­of­war within the ruling coalition, and then its collapse.

The 33­year-­old Vakarchuk said his decision to resign the parliament was a conscious and considered, but difficult step. “In my opinion, the Verkhovna Rada’s current format has not fulfilled its major role – to create a face of Ukraine as a modern European state,” he explained.

The front man of Ukraine’s top rock band Okean Elzy, Vakarchuk was one of the faces of the Orange Revolution in 2004, when he regularly gave performances on the country’s main stage in the cold, snowy days. As a result, he ran for parliament on the pro­presidential Our Ukraine list under number 15 during last year’s parliamentary election.

A year on, Vakarchuk has quit his political career. “I was ready to accept rules of political struggle for achieving certain aims. But when you see that struggle becomes a self­sufficient game where players do not need anyone, everything that takes place there just loses any sense,” the musician said.

Rada Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who has to announce Vakarchuk’s statement during the session, said he understands his ex­colleague. “I told him frankly that I share his position,” Yatsenyuk told the press.

Vakarchuk said he is not going to stay out of sight. “I am returning to an active public life. I am returning with faith that there are many of us,” he said.

While musician Vakarchuk has quit the parliament, his father, 61­-year old Ivan Vakarchuk, is still working as Minister for Education.