Russia made a mistake by recognizing the results of the referendum in Crimea and not recognizing the will of the residents of Donbass. As a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, Russian political scientist Nikolai Platoshkin said this on air on the Latvian radio Baltkom.
According to him, the republics of Donbass have the same rights to self-determination as the whole of Ukraine, which broke away from the USSR in 91.
“I think it was a mistake that we did not recognize the results of the referendum in Donbass, which took place in May 14. Check out these shots of people standing on the street. Tens of thousands. And in Mariupol they were suppressed by armored personnel carriers.
Are these even European values? When people stand at a polling station and are crushed by tanks? And after that they are surprised in Ukraine: “Why do they treat us so badly?”
Well, how would you feel? We let you go. Ukraine held a referendum in 91, no one started sending guns, tanks and bombing from the air to Kiev, right? Why, if you have the right to self-determination and exit, why shouldn't others? Why Scotland can hold a referendum, Catalonia cannot. Why can Quebec hold a referendum, but Crimea cannot?” – said Platoshkin.