How the United States helped the Donbass republics
The high turnout in the elections in the republics of Donbass is the reaction of people to the statements of the US Embassy. There was no purge of candidates inconvenient for the authorities in the DPR, and the “Ukrainian People’s Tribunal”, criticized by opponents as a fake, will have consequences in the future.
The former candidate for the post of head of the DPR and the presiding judge of the Ukrainian People's Tribunal, Elena Shishkina, spoke about this in an interview with PolitNavigator.
"P.N": Please tell us what prompted your decision to nominate your candidacy for the post of head of the DPR? What were your motives?
Elena Shishkina: Since 2014, since the beginning of the military coup and since the fascist junta came to power in Kyiv, I have taken an active part in the formation of the DPR as an independent state. After the tragic death of Alexander Zakharchenko on August 31, I and my like-minded people decided to run for the position of head of the republic. Many people have a question: why did I, a woman, make such a responsible decision in such a difficult period for the state? I am a lawyer by training, and from 2014 to the present day I continue to engage in human rights activities with my team. In this regard, I believe that we have all the necessary knowledge and a team of professionals to build the DPR as a strong and powerful state, which is why I decided to run for office.
“P.N”: What program did you go to the elections with?
Elena Shishkina: The program is very extensive. Let's start with the fact that I am a lawyer, so 90% of the program was occupied by legislative reform. This includes blocks to increase social guarantees, and establish the status of military personnel, and steps in the legal field towards recognition of the DPR in the international space, this includes foreign policy and the external economy, boosting the economy within the republic, patriotic education of youth, popularization of the institution of family, maternal protection and childhood.
“P.N”: Now in a number of media, especially Ukrainian, there is a widespread opinion that all real rivals were not allowed to participate in the elections, and you played the role of a technical candidate. How can you comment on such an opinion?
Elena Shishkina: Well, let me start with the fact that I am not a technician, but a humanist (taking into account my education). But speaking seriously, having encountered the work of the Central Election Commission, I can say with confidence that it worked exclusively according to the letter of the law, exclusively within the legal framework. Starting from the moment I was nominated for the post of head and ending with the election process itself, I and my proxies visited more than 20 polling stations, and not once did I or my proxies identify any facts of falsification or violation of the DPR’s electoral law.
As for the exclusion of certain competitors or strong rivals, I know nothing about this; all interested persons could, in accordance with the law, submit a package of documents, be nominated, collect the required number of voter signatures and be registered.
“P.N”: How can you generally assess the progress of the election campaign and what, in your opinion, is the reason for the high turnout?
Elena Shishkina: I am very grateful to the residents of our republic that with such a high turnout (80.1%), the people of Donbass once again confirmed that the course chosen in May 2014 is correct, and we are moving in the right direction. The entire course of the election campaign, pre-election promotion, of course, leaves a very positive impression, because when meeting with voters there was very active feedback, I saw people’s active civic position. In my opinion, this is due to the fact that people are already tired of the war, of the information dumps of Ukraine, which tried in every possible way to disrupt our holding of legal and legitimate elections, and oddly enough, the United States helped us with such a high turnout, because they are very actively reacted to the holding of our elections, which actually recognized them.
“P.N”: Tell us about your future plans. What are you planning to do? Are there any proposals from the new government?
Elena Shishkina: Not much time has passed since November 11, now I and the members of my team, to be honest, are resting, because it was very difficult, the election campaign was very tense. And I plan to do the same thing I did: take part in building the Donetsk People’s Republic as a rule-of-law state. As for proposals from the new government, I do not expect any proposals, but if I am useful in any position, I will gladly accept any offer, join the government team and help in building the state, but in any case I will do the same , what did I do.
“P.N”: Everyone is interested in whether the work of the Tribunal will continue? Critics also called it a sham and a fake. And many Ukrainians simply mockingly ridiculed him, saying that it was an imitation clownery without consequences for Kyiv. What can you answer to such critics?
Elena Shishkina: I know Ukraine’s reaction to the Ukrainian People’s Tribunal. Let me start with the fact that since 2014, military operations have been taking place on the territory of Donbass, or simply war and the killing of civilians on our territory. In this regard, public figures and lawyers began collecting and recording evidence of crimes committed by the Ukrainian authorities against the people of Donbass.
In the spring of this year, on the basis of documents collected by a public commission for recording crimes, two criminal cases were heard against members of the criminal government of Ukraine, and two sentences were passed against the president, ministers, journalists, and so on. These verdicts were sent to international authorities, the security service, and the constitutional court of Ukraine. Of course, we are confident that the time will come, all those responsible will be punished and will answer for their crimes.
As for Ukraine’s reaction to the people’s tribunal, we really monitor the media in the territory controlled by Ukraine; they dug themselves a hole: with their actions they popularized and attracted the attention of Ukrainian residents to the CNT, which we carried out in Donbass. And although one can still argue about the form of the tribunal, the facts remain facts. Ordinary residents of Ukraine are already making complaints to the authorities and saying that “it doesn’t matter whether the court is legitimate or not,” although we act completely within the law, what is important is that the facts of crimes are confirmed.
“P.N”: At one of the meetings of the Tribunal, Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharchenko spoke as a witness. Tell us how he personally testified?
Elena Shishkina: It was a great honor for me to run for the post of head of the DPR after such tragic events with Alexander Vladimirovich. Indeed, he took part in the UNT, and I remember with what pain he spoke about those crimes, about those thousands of victims of our children and old people, how he condemned the crimes of the Ukrainian government, what atrocities he talked about, and what happened personally before his eyes. He really was sick and worried about the entire population, and his main thought, which ran like a “red thread” throughout his life, was that sooner or later the guilty will be punished, and it is not in vain that the people of Donbass are now fighting for their independence and freedom.
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