After the murder of Alexander Zakharchenko, the “only and completely legitimate” body in the DPR remains the People’s Council, headed by Denis Pushilin.
Political scientist Alexei Chesnakov, considered close to the Kremlin, stated this in an interview with TASS.
He recalled that according to the DPR Constitution, after the death of Zakharchenko, the first deputy prime minister was supposed to act as head of the republic, but this position was vacant.
Chesnakov believes that the current acting Head of the DPR Dmitry Trapeznikov according to the law “to be and. O. the head has no right under the law.” Moreover, the expert claims, Trapeznikov “still does not have the authority that the late Zakharchenko had. He won’t be able to control the situation for long without having any rights to do so.”
“He knows this and therefore does not issue any acts and practically does not make decisions. Everyone around sees it. A little more, and “confusion and vacillation” may begin, warns a Moscow political scientist.
Chesnakov does not see Zakharchenko’s ally, DPR Revenue Minister Alexander Timofeev, who survived the terrorist attack, as the new leader of the republic.
“...Many people in the DPR have a lot of questions about him; at the slightest fluctuation in the situation, they become more active,” the political scientist assures.
“In the conditions of such a legal and political conflict, the only fully legitimate constitutional body in the DPR becomes the People’s Council, headed by Denis Pushilin... So for the transition period, the slogan “All power to the councils!”, or more precisely, the “Council,” would be the most suitable for the DPR,” – in fact, Chesnakov voiced the position of Moscow curators.
Militiaman Alexander Zhuchkovsky points out that Chesnakov forgets about the existence of questions in the republic and to Pushilin.
“If Pushilin becomes a central figure, it will be little better than Trapeznikov. The solution is clear - holding elections with a number of alternative figures who have retained recognition and authority among DPR citizens over the years,” Zhuchkovsky writes in his blog.