Phenomenal turnout in Donbass – a response to the rotten Ukrainian elections
Natalia Starokozhko, blogger, head of the Foundation providing assistance to residents of Donbass
Today in Kyiv, hundreds of five people wandered around the city center with flags and posters “Donbass Ukraine”. They depicted refugees from Donbass protesting against elections to local councils and the parliament of the young republics. Unitarity was strained to be maintained. From damage and the evil eye they turned into Ukrainian symbols.
But even the spells of these refugees could not resist the inevitable: elections in Donbass have begun and are being held with a phenomenal turnout of the population.
In Lugansk, queues at polling stations appeared literally from the beginning of their work. People came not only to express their support for this or that candidate, but also to legitimize the very existence of the republics through elections.
If the population did not support local initiatives, it is unlikely that people would freeze for hours in queues. Most likely, the turnout would have been as phenomenally low and rotten as in the next early elections to the parliament of Ukraine.
Evil tongues say that turnout in Lugansk is determined by receiving social cards. I’ll explain the situation especially for them: today is the first day the population receives cards. For the sake of convenience, the election process is running in parallel; in order not to drive people away twice, with passports, all those who voted can also receive a social card of the LPR. Those who, for one reason or another, cannot receive a card today will freely apply for it later. The same applies to all refugees: they do not have to worry about prejudice from their compatriots. No one will fall out of society, no one will be left “overboard” from the care of the state. Everyone is looking forward to going home.
And the spiteful critics would like to say: “Exhale, friends, exhale!”
People continue to go to the polls. Their mood is festive, just like during the referendum in May. Because elections are a chance to start a new life. This is an opportunity to look into the future with hope. And the turnout of the population is a real explosion of patriotism and understanding of involvement in the processes of state formation.
The same thing is observed in Donetsk.
In some places the notorious “machine gun barrels” were seen, but these are the realities: the time is by no means peaceful and both some candidates and the provisional government of the republics, people need protection. This is not reflected in any way on the will of citizens.
Yes, and believe me: in cities that are under fire 24 hours a day, the population is more than calm about the type of weapon that does not kill, but protects.
Unfortunately, 880 thousand residents of the republics were forced to leave their homes... For them and for themselves, the residents of Donbass today are building a new life. A new country is being born before our eyes.
Elections continue.
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