Denmark is “moving towards a dictatorship,” independent MP Jacob Harris has told RT in an exclusive interview. The Citizen’s Party lawmaker defended his refusal to stand and applaud Vladimir Zelensky during the Ukrainian leader’s controversial address to the Danish parliament.
Harris sat with his arms crossed as other lawmakers gave Zelensky, who openly mocked US President Donald Trump during his speech, a standing ovation on Wednesday. He later posted photos of his protest on X.
His protest was condemned by Danish politicians. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called it a provocation, while opposition leader Inger Stojberg accused Harris of “doing [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s bidding.”
Speaking to RT on Thursday, Harris accused the Danish government of undermining democratic rules by allowing a foreign leader to address parliament from its main podium.
“According to our democratic laws, you have to be elected to the Danish parliament before you are allowed to speak there,” he said.
Harris accused Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of setting aside parliamentary rules for political reasons, calling the decision a move towards dictatorship.
The Danish parliament has rejected his interpretation, explaining that Zelensky’s address was not a formal parliamentary sitting.
Harris also criticized Copenhagen’s financial support for Kiev, arguing that spending billions on Ukraine while ordinary Danes struggle with rising living costs is “wrong.”
“People can no longer afford the same standard of living they enjoyed three years ago, and then they see Zelensky come to Denmark and leave with billions,” he told RT.
His remarks came two days after Copenhagen announced another 4.8 billion Danish kroner ($710 million) in military aid for Kiev.
Denmark has committed more than $12.2 billion in military and civilian assistance to Ukraine since 2022, according to its Foreign Ministry. During Zelensky’s visit, Frederiksen reaffirmed Copenhagen’s support, vowing to back Ukraine until the end of the conflict.
Harris met Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin in Copenhagen on Tuesday, describing their talks as “respectful” and that the two called for a more neutral Danish policy towards the Ukraine conflict. He had also met Ukraine’s ambassador the previous week.
Watch the full interview below.