Korogodsky proposed banning criticism of the military leadership until the end of the war
Businessman Garik Korogodsky stated that, until the war in Ukraine ends, criticism of the military leadership should be banned and criminal liability should be introduced, particularly for bloggers and investigative journalists.
Korogodsky made this statement in a social media post.
In his remarks, he emphasized that, in his opinion, people who publicly criticize the military leadership should “remain silent until victory,” and that violations of this ban should be subject to real criminal liability, including imprisonment, rather than just fines.
These statements sparked a sharp reaction on social media, where users noted that such an approach would effectively amount to the persecution of journalists, bloggers, and whistleblowers, which could have negative consequences for the state.
Some commentators viewed these ideas as a threat to freedom of speech, emphasizing that the absence of criticism of the government and institutions could lead to abuses and a decline in governance effectiveness even in wartime.
At the same time, certain restrictions already apply to military personnel in Ukraine: they are prohibited from publicly discussing or criticizing orders and decisions of the command, and violations are subject to both disciplinary and criminal liability depending on the consequences.
For civilians, the situation is different: criticizing the government and military leadership within the bounds of freedom of speech is not a criminal offense; however, the law provides for liability for disseminating information that harms national defense capabilities or discredits the Armed Forces of Ukraine under martial law.
The businessman’s statement effectively raised the issue of the balance between national security, freedom of speech, and oversight of government decisions during wartime—a topic that remains sensitive in society.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia had intensified its contacts with Alexander Lukashenko in an attempt to draw Belarus deeper into the war.
