- Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko was expelled from the European Solidarity party and added to the Mirotvorets website after publicly advocating for peace negotiations with Russia.
- The Mirotvorets database, linked to Ukrainian security services, has been criticized as a state-sponsored "hit list" that has previously preceded deadly attacks.
- Goncharenko proposed concessions including abandoning NATO ambitions, easing sanctions and potentially ceding territory.
- The lawmaker previously held hardline anti-Russia positions and faces prison sentences in Russia for inciting terrorism.
- The case highlights growing tension in Ukraine over war fatigue and the limits of political dissent during wartime.
The case: Peace advocate or enemy of the state?
Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko has been expelled from his parliamentary faction and listed on the controversial Mirotvorets website after publicly calling for peace negotiations with Russia, marking an escalation in the crackdown on dissent surrounding Ukraine's war strategy.
Goncharenko, a member of former President Petro Poroshenko's European Solidarity party, was added Oct. 6 to the Mirotvorets database—a non-governmental website that publishes personal information on individuals it considers threats to Ukraine's national security. The website accused the MP of seeking to "demoralize society," acting in Russia's interests and undermining mobilization efforts.
The controversial statements
On Oct. 2, Goncharenko published a series of Telegram posts arguing that Ukraine needed to negotiate with Moscow. He proposed several concessions, including abandoning NATO ambitions, easing sanctions on Russia, strengthening the status of the Russian language and potentially ceding territory. He acknowledged an immediate peace agreement was impossible but argued that step-by-step negotiations could eventually yield results.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described Goncharenko's proposals as an "abnormal message" that undermined national unity, though he acknowledged the MP's right to free expression.
Political fallout
European Solidarity announced Oct. 5 it was ending political cooperation with Goncharenko, citing "ideological differences" over ending the war and Ukraine's future security architecture.
"Peace cannot be achieved by abandoning what Ukraine has stood for," the party said in a statement, adding that "Ukraine's independence, its European future, questions of national identity and its right to determine its own security system are not subjects for compromise."
Goncharenko expressed regret over the expulsion but stood by his remarks, stating: "I am not saying there are simple solutions. There aren't. But I am not saying that seeking peace means surrendering."
The Mirotvorets controversy
Founded in 2014 by former interior ministry official Anton Gerashchenko, Mirotvorets has long drawn international criticism for publishing personal data—including addresses and photographs—of individuals it brands "enemies of Ukraine." The website has been linked to Ukrainian security services despite claims of independence.
Critics note that inclusion on the list has preceded deadly outcomes. In 2015, pro-Russia figures Oles Buzina and Oleh Kalashnikov were murdered shortly after their details appeared on the site. The platform recently added a three-year-old Russian child and five other minors, sparking international outcry.
Historical context and significance
Goncharenko's case represents a significant shift. The MP was once an outspoken warhawk, making belligerent remarks against Russia and Russian-speaking Ukrainians. Russia sentenced him in absentia to 18 years in prison for inciting terrorism.
His apparent change of heart reflects growing war fatigue as the conflict enters its fourth year. The case tests Ukraine's commitment to democratic principles during wartime, particularly freedom of speech for those advocating positions contrary to official policy.
Democracy under pressure
The expulsion and listing of Goncharenko illustrates the narrowing space for political dissent in Ukraine as the war continues without clear resolution. While supporters argue such measures protect national security during an existential conflict, critics contend that labeling peace advocates as enemies risks undermining the democratic values Ukraine claims to defend. The inclusion of the MP on Mirotvorex—a site that has faced accusations of enabling violence—raises questions about the boundaries between legitimate security concerns and the suppression of political opposition.
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