Ukraine investigating allegations comedian turned presidential front-runner is funded by the Kremlin

In Ukrainian politics, the biggest story of 2019 has been the unexpected rise of Volodymyr Zelenskiy, an actor and comedian who has no political experience but defeated President Petro Poroshenko in the first round of Ukraine’s presidential race on March 31. Zelenskiy has been leading in the polls, and Ukrainian pundits are predicting a victory for him when the next round of voting takes place this Sunday, April 21. But Zelenskiy’s campaign isn’t without controversy, and the Ukrainian News Agency is reporting that his campaign is being investigated by Ukraine Security Services (SBU) for alleged financing by the Kremlin as well as by rebels in Eastern Ukraine.

Claims that Zelenskiy’s campaign is being financed in part by the Russian government first appeared on the website of a Ukrainian hacking group. The group alleged that Zelenskiy’s Russian supporters included billionaire oligarch Konstantin Malofeev and Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov (who has been an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin). But representatives for Zelenskiy’s campaign have responded that the allegations of Russian financing are “100% fake.”

The lead that Zelenskiy has enjoyed over Poroshenko in recent polls has been substantial. The Ukrainian News Agency, polling most regions of Ukraine from April 5-10, found that 61% of Ukraine residents who planned to vote on April 21 were supporting Zelenskyi, while only 24% were supporting Poroshenko—and 15% remained undecided.