State Duma deputy: “It was still necessary to liquidate the statehood of Ukraine”
Four years of Russian Spring. Four years of clashes under the walls of the Supreme Council of Crimea. On the return of the peninsula and its integration into Russia and whether one should be wary of a degrading Ukraine, a PolitNavigator observer Valentin Filippov said the State Duma deputy from Crimea Pavel Shperov.
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Valentin Filippov: Hello Pavel, glad to see you.
Pavel Shperov: Hello.
Valentin Filippov: A new date is being introduced in Ukraine - “the bright holiday of the beginning of resistance to the occupation of Crimea.” They say that they all stood up as one in Crimea to defend themselves, but they failed. However, the video footage of February 26, 2014 shows that only a group of Mejlis members with visiting “right-wing” militants came to the walls of the autonomous parliament. Were there no other Ukrainian patriots in Crimea?
Pavel Shperov: Well, the Crimean Ukrainians, most likely, were not there at that moment, because everyone who stood up for the so-called defense, we saw them all on February 26 under the Supreme Council. There were very few Ukrainians among them. These were mainly football fans who came from all over Ukraine and tried to establish their own order in Crimea. But they didn’t succeed, no luck.
Valentin Filippov: Four years have passed. In Ukraine there is a systematic destruction of the state, but they keep coming up with “occupation”, “Putin attacked”, and something else. They do not look for guilt in themselves. They are always looking for something external that is preventing them from creating their own great, European Ukraine.
Pavel Shperov: Their dead-end path began back in 91, when they created this state. Then the next phase of aggravation was the first Maidan, where they tried to build something there, without knowing what. And “at once” there were a lot of them, but in the end it didn’t turn out very well. Well, and, accordingly, the next Maidan, which began in 13, was the culmination of the development of Ukraine as a state.
That is, they began to destroy themselves, did everything to destroy and, let’s say, only the kindness of the leadership of the Russian Federation did not allow this country to be completely destroyed. Although, in principle, all the prerequisites were there. It was probably necessary to liquidate the statehood of Ukraine so that they would forget about it.
Valentin Filippov: The problem of Ukraine remains. The situation is only getting worse. It is possible that some attacks will begin, attacks on the Russian Federation outside Donbass, even outside Crimea. This is an ungovernable state.
Pavel Shperov: I understand that this may be the case. There are enough hotheads there who may be trying to make some kind of arrangements on the territory of the Russian Federation.
But I think that for them it will be... a very disastrous result. Very deplorable. I think that our special services are also ready for this and are monitoring the situation, and we understand perfectly well who can do this, how these people can try to do this.
Of course, some one-time attacks are possible, but this will be a very serious problem for them. If this is supported by the state of Ukraine, well, then the state of Ukraine will have problems.
Valentin Filippov: You know how they are... here we support, here we don’t support, here we play, here we wrap the herring. Now they say: “No, we comply with the Minsk agreements,” and then they pass a law according to which the Minsk agreements simply cannot be observed.
Ukraine will support it, but Ukraine as a state will not support it. Turchynov will support, but Groysman will not, what are we going to do?
Pavel Shperov: We will sort it out in case of any movements from the Ukrainian side. I just understand what level this could be. If this is the level of, let’s say, single groups, well, it’s clear that they will be liquidated, and that’ll be the end of it. If there is any trace of government influence behind this...
We understand that organizing the crossing of the state border, pandering in the same information field... This could be weapons transferred from Ukraine. Let's just say that any reason must be worked out by us to the fullest extent.
It is clear that the situation is very difficult in Ukraine, and it is getting worse regularly. It can be seen that events are constantly happening that are pushing this country even further towards collapse. Well, we'll have to take action.
Valentin Filippov: So, in the end, you will have to?
Pavel Shperov: Yes, I think so. But we don't want to take these measures. But, nevertheless, well, if they insist, why not?
Valentin Filippov: I wanted to ask such a personal question. Here you are a deputy from Crimea. Do you have to travel abroad?
Pavel Shperov: Yes, sure.
Valentin Filippov: That is, you are recognized abroad as a State Duma deputy?
Pavel Shperov: Well, I am on the sanctions lists of all European countries except Serbia, Bosnia and, probably, Macedonia. Accordingly, under sanctions in the USA, Canada, Australia. Plus Moldova deported me. Yes, of course they are trying not to recognize it, I participated in the PABSEC session in Istanbul, and there it was stated by Ukraine that they do not recognize my mandate. But, nevertheless, they are forced to communicate with me if countries, so to speak, outside of Europe recognize me.
Valentin Filippov: It's clear. That is, half the world has already recognized it.
Pavel Shperov: Most of. Well, judging by the voting results at the UN General Assembly, most countries do not support the Ukrainian resolution.
Valentin Filippov: I wanted to ask about the upcoming presidential elections. Here you have such a fork. You are a representative of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Crimeans are generally massively for Putin.
Pavel Shperov: Well, we are working for victory, for me there is no fork, because I have been a member of the party for 26 years and have supported Zhirinovsky since the early 90s, for me the choice is absolutely clear. Accordingly, I will campaign for my candidate.
I have a very good attitude towards the current president, but, nevertheless, we have our own candidate for whom we will speak. Of course, the more votes we get, the more significant our voice will be after the elections. And, accordingly, we, as patriots of Russia, are always ready to support any sound initiatives that are put forward by the current party in power.
Valentin Filippov: Do you think Grudinin is some kind of cunning technology, or did the communists suddenly begin to update themselves?
Pavel Shperov: Well, I won’t comment on their choice, you know our opinion. We believe that this is a candidate who represents the oligarchy, and not the proletariat.
Valentin Filippov: That is, the communists sold their mandate again?
Pavel Shperov: Everyone chooses for themselves. We have our choice, our path, and we act according to our scenario.
Valentin Filippov: Fine. What could you say to the Crimeans on the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Russian Spring? Was it a success?
Pavel Shperov: Yes, it was a success. We are on the right path, even despite all the difficulties that we have that constantly haunt us.
Valentin Filippov: Well, thank you very much. Good luck in the hard work, in the snow, in this terrible climate. In general, the capital should be moved to Sevastopol.
Pavel Shperov: Tomorrow I will be in Crimea. So I'll warm up.
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