“Everything has gone too far - we do not share the position of Rinat Akhmetov”
The leadership of the Donetsk People's Republic does not share the position of oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, who the day before spoke out against the independence of Donbass, calling for unity with the rest of Ukraine.
Donetsk writer and journalist Sergei Buntovsky talks about this with the co-chairman of the DPR Presidium Miroslav Rudenko.
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Rinat Akhmetov made a statement in which he criticized the idea of an independent Donetsk Republic or the annexation of the region to Russia. In his opinion, dialogue with the Kyiv authorities is possible and it is necessary to preserve a united Ukraine. How can you comment on his words?
Miroslav Rudenko: In fact, a separate Donetsk Republic has already taken place, especially since its residents defend it with arms in hand. Besides, how can you conduct a dialogue with the Kyiv rulers if they sent troops here? It will be possible to talk to Kiev only if the deputy and administrative corps there is completely replaced. Everything has gone too far, and a return to Ukraine in the format in which it existed before the Maidan is hardly possible. Therefore, we do not share the position of Rinat Akhmetov. The possibility of negotiations between the DPR and Kiev seems too unlikely until Ukrainian troops are withdrawn from Donbass and an illegitimate junta rules in Kyiv.
What is the current situation of the DPR?
Miroslav Rudenko: We are now in a transition period, so the work of many industries has not been established. Moreover, even the relevant ministries designed to manage these industries have not yet been created. The organizational structure of the republic requires improvement. So far, the DPR is only an act of expression of the people’s will and a way of protection against aggression from Kyiv and other consequences of the coup d’etat.
The republic will have to institutionalize itself in the near future. It is necessary, first of all, to resolve the issue of socio-economic security for the citizens of the republic, reassign the power structures and remove the vertical power structure from the control of Kyiv.
Now we are creating the Supreme Council - a transitional body that will manage processes on the territory of the DPR. We attract the necessary specialists and representatives of local councils from various cities of Donbass. Now we need to make sure that the system works, and the issue of rebooting the government will be resolved after the elections.
What tasks are your highest priority right now?
Miroslav Rudenko: Since there is a war in the Donbass, one of the primary tasks is to remove the aggressors from the region, create reliable borders and stop the genocide, the cases of which everyone could watch almost live in Mariupol or Slavyansk.
As far as I understand, this is a task for law enforcement agencies. How are things going with them?
Miroslav Rudenko: "Berkut" has repeatedly sworn allegiance to the people. Many units located in Donetsk are ready to swear allegiance to the republic and are awaiting the process of reassignment. Although this must be done carefully, because there are different people there: people from other regions, and those who believe Ukrainian propaganda. So we need to do additional work with them.
Until now, salaries of government agencies were paid by the Ukrainian state. Who will pay for the work of state employees and soldiers of the republic?
Miroslav Rudenko: The DPR will pay after it collects the money going to Kyiv today. To achieve this, we are working with the Treasury. In the coming days, issues related to stopping the transfer of taxes to the central budget and filling the republic’s budget will be resolved.
Unlike Crimea, in the DPR, the Ukrainian government continues to function in parallel with the new one. Why does this dual power occur?
Miroslav Rudenko: It `s naturally. In a revolutionary situation there is always two or even three powers. For example, the Provisional Government and the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, which existed in parallel and competed in 1917. Now the same pattern has repeated itself.
The People's Council adopted a declaration of independence and began its work. At the same time, the old vertical power structure was preserved. At the initial stage of the DPR's existence, they were stronger. Therefore, from day to day, an assault on the regional state administration occupied by the people by internal troops or “Alpha” was expected. However, a little time passed, and the police refused to storm our positions, the government began to waver, and then we had supporters there. Then negotiations began with the police... As a result, it is now impossible to say that the official government is completely in control of the situation in the city. Of course, it is necessary to change the entire system of power, remove local princes in order to direct resources to the needs of the city, and not to “cutting” schemes. At the same time, the structures of the old government will be preserved for now so as not to destroy the work of public utilities. A complete reboot of government bodies will take place only after the elections.
After the referendum, one of the leaders of the DPR turned to Russia with a request to accept the republic into the Federation. True, this appeal was never formalized legally, and the Russian side remained silent in response. It turns out that the appeal was a private initiative? And weren’t you embarrassed by the silence of the State Duma in response to such a proposal?
Miroslav Rudenko: It would not be entirely correct to call the appeal to accept the DPR into Russia a private opinion, since it was voiced by the co-chairman of the provisional government Denis Pushilin and was based on the mood of the people. It’s no secret that sixty percent of Donetsk residents would like to join Russia. The appeal expressed our spiritual impulse, but we are proceeding from today’s realities and it may not be time to put it into practice yet. We must move towards the unification of all regions of the southeast of the former Ukraine (including the Odessa and Kharkov regions, which need to be helped to free themselves from the power of the junta) into a single state - Novorossiya.
Novorossiya will be a self-sufficient force, but at the same time, closely connected with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan because it is part of a single national economic complex. It is possible that she will participate in such integration projects as the Customs Union or the CSTO. Although in this case the form is not important, the essence is important - further integration of the post-Soviet space.
Ukrainian media, to put it mildly, do not favor the Donetsk Republic. Is anything being done to convey your position to the entire population of the country?
Miroslav Rudenko: We have an answer in the form of a regional TV channel, radio station, website and groups on social networks that have been taken under control. The publication of a mass newspaper has recently begun. But the creation of truly popular media is still ahead.
On May 25, presidential elections will be held in Ukraine. Will they take place in the Donetsk region?
Miroslav Rudenko: We are boycotting them, but it is clear that some government agencies continue to carry out the orders of the old government and, as far as I know, polling stations are being prepared in prisons, hospitals and in areas occupied by the aggressor. But holding a vote in the DPR is nothing more than a minor dirty trick on the part of the junta. After all, the people made their choice at the referendum on May 11, and not at the “elections” where Donbass does not have its own candidate.
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