Ivano-Frankivsk mayor calls a meeting attendee a "public asshat"

Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv called Bohdan Kozak, head of the NGO Nebayduzhi Frankivchany, a “public asshat” at a meeting with citizens in his office.

Bohdan Kozak posted footage of the incident on Facebook.

According to Kozak, the housing co-op “Mlynarska” attended the meeting to resolve an issue related to the use of the adjacent land plot. He was asked by the co-op leader Tetyana Kulpa to help in this matter and to support them at the meeting with the mayor.

Ruslan Martsinkiv. Photo by Ruslan Martsinkiv on Facebook

Tetyana Kulpa said that the issue needs to be resolved, that “something needs to be done” and that public hearings on this issue should be held outside working hours. Kozak intervened in the conversation and started citing the community charter, which regulates the time alotted for public hearings.

“I don’t want to be rude to you, Mr. Bohdan. Because you behave rudely and then demand something. You behave rudely, you insult me personally, you hold up protest signs, you have knocked some doors down, so I don’t want to talk to you,” Martsinkiv said, addressing Kozak.

Kozak asked when did he knock down any doors. Martsinkiv pointed out that Kozak is a member of the housing co-op, and after Kozak stressed that he was a public activist, Martsinkiv replied that he was not a public activist but a “public asshat.” Then Kozak called Martsinkiv the same in response.

The verbal conflict continued, with Martsinkiv advising Kozak to make a separate appointment. Then the mayor asked that Kozak be taken out of the office. Kozak said that he would not leave and would call the police.

The men present in the office led Kozak out and refused to say their names at his request.

Ruslan Martsinkiv also posted footage of the conflict on Facebook, including the insult addressing Kozak.

“Anything can happen when meeting citizens: old grudges, and intrusions, accusations, the police and lies, experienced provocateurs… Because anyone can run out of patience every now and then. Yesterday, I also let my emotions get the best of me. But rude people ask for rude treatment!” Marcinkiv wrote in the caption to the video.

In 2024, the Kolomyia City Council (Ivano-Frankivsk oblast) prematurely dismissed secretary Andriy Kunychak for publicly comparing a Council member to a witch.