Elections in the DPR: a striking contrast with the campaign in Ukraine

Mikael Chagalyan, journalist, Donetsk

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So, there are literally a few days left before the historical event. On November 2, Donetsk and Lugansk will host elections to the legislative bodies of the proclaimed republics, as well as elections of heads of new subjects of statehood.

And even though the territory of the republics is relatively small, even though there is a serious military confrontation, this event is indeed very important from a historical point of view. Let's be honest: today few people realize that we live in an era of truly tectonic shifts, changing history, borders, sweeping away states. And the awareness of what is happening, in particular in Donetsk, will come to people a little later.

But today the residents of the Republic have their own concerns: military operations within the city, difficulties in obtaining pensions, shortages of medicines, preparations for winter. Everyone wants peace and stability to come. And, of course, it is with the upcoming elections that the vast majority of people pin their hopes for a real improvement in their situation.

Let us immediately make a reservation that elections in the Donetsk Republic will be very different from the usual election formats in Ukraine, and anywhere else. We have already written that there will be no election process with all the PR attributes in Donetsk, and we turned out to be right. The candidates' advertising campaigns are very low-key. Neither on radio nor on television you will find aggressive, flashy commercials. In literally one or two places on advertising media one could see the image of one or another candidate for the post of head of the republic, and this lasted for a matter of days. Basically, hundreds of identical faces do not look at you from advertising planes, and newspapers do not write sentimental articles about the broad soul and big heart of this or that candidate. Outdoor advertising, like electronic media, is used quite widely, but exclusively for the purpose of attracting voters to participate in elections.

Everything is being done to ensure that every resident is informed about the upcoming voting day, but this is where the propaganda part ends. Basically, candidates work with people on the ground: meetings usually take place when resolving certain issues related to restoring the infrastructure of destroyed cities, carrying out repair work, or opening a school. And it is significant that not a single candidate at such meetings has ever uttered the words “Vote for me,” or “if I am elected, I promise...”. Nobody promises anything, no one organizes demonstrative charity events. Everything seems to go by itself, in the current work mode. This is an important feature that you won't see anywhere else.

There is a feeling that all the candidates, without saying a word, have accepted certain rules of the game, and no one is violating them. One thing is certain: the turnout will be quite high, not the same as at the referendum on May 11, but still not small.

The main danger that is truly alarming is possible provocations, or the active start of military action with the aim of disrupting the election process. If the security forces and militia of the republic manage to stop these threats, then with a high degree of probability we can say: the elections will be held with dignity, in compliance with procedural norms, and the Donetsk People's Republic will become a legitimate state entity.