KYIV: A Ukrainian reconstruction official, known for galvanizing historic pro-democracy rallies in Kyiv a decade ago, announced his resignation on Monday citing red tape and a travel ban.
Mustafa Nayyem became well-known in Ukraine in 2013, when he called for rallies against the decision by Ukraine’s then-president to stall integration talks with the EU.
The protests eventually saw leader Viktor Yanukovych ousted and precipitated hostilities with Kremlin-backed separatists in the east that simmered until Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The 42-year-old has been head of the country’s main reconstruction agency, the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, since last January.
But on Monday he announced that he was stepping down from the post, because of “constant opposition, resistance and creation of artificial obstacles” to his agency’s work.
“I made the decision on my own due to systemic obstacles that do not allow me to fulfil my duties effectively,” he wrote in a post on social media.
He said his agency’s budget had been slashed, that projects had been held up by excessive paperwork, and that his colleagues’ salaries had been cut.
“All of this negatively affects the country’s defense capabilities, cargo logistics, protection of critical infrastructure, and exports of our goods,” he said.
Nayyem also directly blamed Prime Minister Denys Shmygal for blocking him from traveling to Germany this week for an upcoming conference on rebuilding efforts in Ukraine.
The decision came after the country’s infrastructure minister was dismissed last month.

PARIS: Political upheaval in France won’t affect preparations for the Olympic Summer Games, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Monday after President Emmanuel Macron shocked France with his call for new parliamentary elections.
Macron called the snap election after the far-right National trounced his own party in Sunday’s European Parliament vote. Two voting rounds will be held on June 30th and July 7th, the latter coming less than three weeks before the Olympics begin.
“France is used to holding elections, they will do it one more time, there will be a new government and everyone will support the Olympics ,” Bach said during a Paris 2024 run-up event in Paris, adding that French political leaders were united in their support of the Games.
“I have no indication whatsoever that this unity will break now only a couple of days before the Games open,” he said.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a socialist, said she was “having a hard time understanding” why Macron chose to throw the country into political uncertainty so close to the Games, calling the move “one more coup” by the president.
Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet said his team was “more determined than ever” to make the Games a success. “There were around ten elections since we launched the candidacy for the Olympics and we understood how to work with the public actors.”