Bandera's nightmare: LPR and DPR as part of Ukraine
Alexey Blyuminov, political commentator, Lugansk – Kyiv
Have you noticed what makes supporters of the current Ukrainian government furious? I noticed. More than even the fact of the existence of the LPR and DPR, they are infuriated by Moscow’s careful emphasis on respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
After all, if we look at Russia’s position from the outside, what will we see? Since the spring, the same idea has been voiced in different variations: “We respect the choice of the population of Donbass and are ready to work with those leaders to whom Donbass entrusts the authority to represent their interests. And we call on Kyiv to start a direct dialogue with representatives of Donbass.”
If anyone finds other statements by Russian officials, for example, about their readiness to recognize the DPR, LPR, or, say, Novorossiya as a separate state from Ukraine and establish diplomatic relations with them, I ask for a quote to the studio. But, in fact, you will not find such quotes from Putin, Lavrov or Zurabov. The thing is that, contrary to the myths of Ukrainian propaganda, Russia everywhere emphasizes that the DPR and LPR are part of Ukraine and calls on the Kiev leadership to start a dialogue with its citizens.
But the paradox is that there is nothing worse for adherents of a “united Ukraine” than imagining an equal dialogue with the DPR and LPR based on respect for the choice of these people. The DPR and LPR as part of Ukraine are the worst dream of any Banderaite.
After all, the “united Ukraine” that “patriots” love to rant about does not begin with painting the fences blue and yellow. It starts with respect for fellow citizens with different positions, different political choices and different cultural identities. But it seems that those who like to wrap everything according to a single Lviv template have not even heard of such matters as “unity in diversity”. Despite the fact that the concept is very European. This is what the very EU is built on, where our small-town “Europeans” are so eager to get to.
It is not surprising that Moscow’s last attempt to call on Kyiv to follow its example and respect the will of the residents of Donbass on November 2 ended as usual. Hysterics about “threats to Ukrainian statehood” and promises to roll “terrorists” into the asphalt.
Moreover, after November 2, Kyiv chose the worst of all possible strategies regarding Donbass. This strategy is called “Crimean rake”. This is when, against the backdrop of loud and pretentious speeches about the same “single country” and promises to restore its integrity, in practice everything is done to push away regions with a different vision of the future, in the literal sense of the word “push them out” from this “single country” .
How did this translate in relation to the LPR and DPR?
Firstly, Yatsenyuk’s Cabinet of Ministers completely abandoned any social obligations to residents of the rebel territories with Ukrainian passports. From now on – no pensions, no salaries, no maternity benefits, no “regressions”!
Moreover, if previously a resident of some Gorlovka, from where Ukraine withdrew its treasury, its Pension Fund and its banks by order, could travel once a month for their own money to the territory controlled by Kiev and there receive the same pension, then from now on this he doesn't have the opportunity.
People who have earned it through their labor can only count on a pension from Ukraine by voluntarily leaving their hometowns, abandoning their homes and property, and moving for permanent residence to “mainland” Ukraine as “temporary migrants.” That is, Ukraine openly stated that, from its point of view, an exemplary resident of Donbass is a refugee. According to Kyiv, there should be no people in Lugansk and Donetsk. And whoever remains is to blame himself.
This was followed by instructions from the Cabinet of Ministers to urgently evacuate ALL budgetary institutions from the territories of the LPR and DPR to territories controlled by Kyiv by December 1. We are talking about universities, schools, museums, libraries, theaters, philharmonic societies, etc., etc. Governor Moskal has already run ahead of the locomotive with a hysterical demand to evacuate the Academy of Arts and the Lugansk Philharmonic from the territory of the LPR. Despite the fact that both institutions are functioning, and the people working there have signed contracts with the LPR government and are not going to leave anywhere.
“Not only do these cultural jesters constantly perform as corps de ballet at various LPR events, write hymns for them and glorify “great achievements,” but last week they performed at Plotnitsky’s “coronation,” entertaining “honored guests” with their “high art,” – writes Moskal.
Moskal’s hysteria is doubly absurd. After all, if these are “clowns from culture”, and their art is “high” in quotes, WHY transport them to the “unoccupied” territory of Ukraine?
But that's not all. The same Cabinet of Ministers instructed ministers to prepare and submit to the government a bill to deprive Donbass residents of benefits and subsidies for gas, electricity, etc.
It seems that Kyiv itself has set a course for a complete break with the LPR/DPR. The ropes are cut from the shoulder without looking back. Without even thinking about the fact that if the republics themselves organize the collection of taxes and start paying salaries and pensions, then these regions will not return back. Because the state begins with social obligations to its citizens.
And if Kyiv refuses to feed Lugansk pensioners, another state will feed them. Thus, it is Kyiv politicians who are forcing the divorce of Donbass from Ukraine, making it inevitable and bringing the situation closer to the point of no return.
So a paradox emerges - Moscow stands for a united Ukraine, and Kyiv is pushing Donbass out of it.
So who, one might ask, is doing everything for the emergence of a new Transnistria?
And what is the price for statements about a “united Ukraine”?
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