An excerpt:
Vice Mayor of Odessa Oles Yanchuk is no more. He has been removed from office by Mayor Trukhanov.
Mr Yanchuk’s crimes, both real and metaphorical, against the local constituency are numerous, and indeed for many grave. For the past four years he has engaged in a small war with SMEs in Odessa, demolishing small trading booths, closing fast-food establishments and overseeing extortionate “fees” for entrepreneurs that according to statute include licences issued free. Exactly what you would expect for an individual responsible for urban commerce in a city with a political class of that which Odessa unfortunately suffers.
His methods were aggressive (sometimes literally) and not confined to remaining within any food hygiene or construction permit legislation – as much seemingly occurring without as within the law.
Recently however, he went too far – several times.
(Former) Vice Mayor Yanchuk recently declared open warfare upon the much loved shawarma and its vendors, in effect attempting to make that food and fast-food outlets illegal (literally).
The assault upon SMEs/entrepreneurs – and the beloved shawrama – brought about public protests from vendors and consumers alike.
Footage of Russia's military drills in Crimea (from Iranian state-funded Press TV of all places!):