“Novorossiya, like black in chess, always goes second”
Kyiv - Odessa, February 21 (Navigator, Sergey Stepanov) - About how the tragic events in Kiev are seen from Odessa, whether the local elite is capable of resisting the new government, and whether Novorossiya, Crimea and Donbass will unite, in an interview "To the Navigator" said a deputy of the Odessa City Council Alexander Vassiliev.
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“Navigator”: How is the current Ukrainian conflict seen from Novorossiya?
Alexander Vasiliev: This is definitely a civil war. And it is clear that the “victory” of either side will result in a regime that will be worse than the current one. On the other hand, Novorossiya as a political entity may indeed emerge from this conflict. Personally, I would like today’s Ukrainian South to remain a “safe haven” in the midst of the storm that is just unfolding. But for this, perhaps, it will be necessary to make even more efforts than simply suppressing the rebellion.
“Navigator”: Just recently you said that for the South-East the conflict in Kyiv is alien. Why? Has your opinion changed now?
Alexander Vasiliev: I said he was a stranger to the South. For the East, specifically for Donbass, this was not the case from the very beginning.
I won’t say that one of the sides has become closer to me, but I am still sure that the first thing we should think about is taking advantage of this conflict to gain maximum autonomy from Kyiv, no matter who wins there.
“Navigator”: In order to gain autonomy, you need to put pressure on the authorities from your side. Are such processes observed in Odessa?
Alexander Vasiliev: Today in Odessa there are no forces external to the government that are capable of putting pressure on it. But such ideas also float within Odessa PR, and there is a huge demand for them from society. In this matter, we are still at the very beginning of a difficult path.
"Navigator": KHow do people in Odessa evaluate Yanukovych’s capitulation? And what will be the reaction of local elites?
Alexander Vasiliev: Those who expected Yanukovych to implement a power scenario, and there are many of his voters, will, of course, be disappointed by this. As for the readiness of the elites, to my regret, the Odessa elites are known throughout the country not for their adherence to principles and strength of character, but for their ability to negotiate. Although the hope remains that someone in these conditions will show integrity.
"Navigator": And from where Are hundreds or even thousands of Bandera march participants appearing in Odessa?
Alexander Vasiliev: Back in 2004, 25% of Odessa residents voted for Yushchenko, this must always be kept in mind. The period of Donetsk rule added in our city the number of those who suffered from this government and are hostile to it. Well, let’s not forget about the banal migration from the western and central regions.
"Navigator": PWhy do the participants in these processions like to chant “Odessa is not Russia?”
Alexander Vasiliev: That's a good question! This is not the case in any other city.
I think that this is a reaction to the real mood, let’s say diplomatically, of a significant part of Odessa residents. And I think that this is a common merit of all Russian social forces in Odessa.
"Navigator": What causes such sentiments? Odessa is one of the largest cities in Ukraine, quite well-fed. Why does he need to go back to "an empire without freedoms and dominated by Caucasians"?
Alexander Vasiliev: The fact is that the problems that exist in the modern Russian Federation, in particular those that you are talking about, are today little understood by a significant number of pro-Russian citizens of Ukraine, and, in particular, Odessa residents. We have, so to speak, different agendas. For many in Odessa, this is the key to the stable development of our city, and Ukraine is synonymous with degradation.
"Navigator": What is the degradation of Odessa over the years of independence?
Alexander Vasiliev: The first example - the most significant one is the destruction by the first President of Ukraine Kravchuk of the Black Sea Shipping Company, one of the largest shipping companies in the world.
Those. Odessa ceased to be a “sea city” and became a “city by the sea”. The same fate befell all industrial enterprises. Another pride of Odessa - medicine - today is simply dangerous to health.
The once famous Odessa Film Studio has stopped filming.
We continue to lose architectural monuments and green areas, in the place of which ugly high-rise buildings are rising. This list goes on and on
"Navigator": And from whom in Odessa did they wall up the regional administration with concrete slabs?? From those 25% of Yushchenko supporters? And it was quite strange to see you among the defenders of the Regional State Administration when the Party of Regions imprisoned the leader of your Rodina party.
Alexander Vasiliev: Concrete slabs were hysterical stupidity, quite in the spirit of PR. But there is no denying that in Odessa there are enough forces for the same assault as our neighbors had in Vinnitsa, or, for example, in Dnieper and Zaporozhye. There are ultras who supported the Maidan, activists of local nationalist organizations, and those who have had combat experience on the Maidan from the first days. These forces would be enough if only the police were against them.
Now regarding our position. It is simple - we do not want the revolution to be exported to the city. We were ready to defend not the government, but the city from unrest. Just like in the Second World War, there were former White Guards who refused to cooperate with the Nazis. There is something that is higher than personal grievances.
"Navigator": The traditional question is: how to explain the passivity of the South-East in the current crisis? The agenda is being imposed by Bandera’s supporters.
Alexander Vasiliev: One could probably defend a doctorate in sociology on this topic, it is so extensive. But in general, it must be said that Novorossiya’s reaction is reactive. Those. We, like black in chess, always go second. These are the Ukrainian realities. Unfortunately, the authorities have made every effort to ensure that there is no one here to come forward with an alternative program.
"Navigator": What is the maximum program for the South-East, and what for the near future?
Alexander Vasiliev: In the near future - do not become a victim of civil war. The maximum program is an autonomous political entity with a developed economy, legal and political system. Without nationalists and bandits in power.
"Navigator": By the way, how can you explain the popularity of Eduard Gurvits in Odessa? They say that his rating is now again the highest among the possible candidates for the post of mayor?
Alexander Vasiliev: I don't think his rating is that high. Today he is the most experienced of all Odessa top politicians, and he has had a stable electoral core almost since the time of perestroika.
"Navigator": Can Novorossiya, Crimea and Donbass act together, or is this unlikely?
Alexander Vasiliev: They can, but for this to happen, the current government and its local supervisors must leave.
"Navigator": One of your merits was the steps of the Odessa City Council, which stopped the attack on Russian schools. Recently there was a court decision to cancel initiatives in support of Russian education.
Alexander Vasiliev: Nothing changes for the worse with this. The court's decision was purely formal; moreover, it was appealed.
As for our experience, even before the Kivalov-Kolesnichenko law it was possible to give parents the opportunity to choose. Now there are no problems with this at all. There would be a desire. The education system, like any bureaucratic system, is resisting; there are isolated facts of sabotage, so if you do not deal with the issue substantively, then nothing will change in itself. It is very important to work together with the public on this issue, because the native language at school is not the business of deputies or officials, it is generally the business of local communities.
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