Donetsk rose against the armed revolution in Kiev

Inhabitants of Donetsk during a mass meeting took the power in the city in hand a week ago and declared illegitimacy of the authorities in Kiev. The director of the Centre of the political science analysis and technologies Sergey Anatolyevich Baryshnikov tells about a situation on Donets Basin (Donetsk).

— What is your opinion on events in the Regional council of Donetsk which occurred on March 3? What consequences they will have for Donetsk region?

These events for Donetsk and Donets Basin are unexampled. The slogan «Donetsk, get up!» reflected that situation which for many years was characterized by rather sluggish and uncontested political situation. The monopoly for this activity from Party of Regions suppressed all possible directions and forces. Therefore, considering the overall internal political picture in the country, Donetsk, which saved not dissipated potential all these years, blew up in events on March 3.

So-called «power» which came as a result of a victory of Maidan and radical right nationalist forces in Kiev was certainly met extremely hostilely by the region and city public. Respectively, the most active, small groups and activists of different pro-Russian movements used a situation when the regional management to some extent «stiffened» and decided on the position in relation to Kiev. The ultranationalism which started pulsing three months ago on Maidan became the reason such of activity of the citizens of Donets Basin in a form and on dynamics.

There were also informal leaders who were before in a shadow of the Party of Regions, including representatives of young part of the population. Pavel Gubarev mentioned in all news is the graduate of department of history of Donetsk University, the person having experience of the deputy in one of districts of the city of Donetsk. He positioned himself at the beginning of the 2000th years as the active opponent of the westernized line of policy, according to his offer one of districts of the city of Donetsk was declared by the territory, free from NATO. He already developed long ago the position on all current questions and was in a peculiar «waiting» regime. His potential, his determination and strong-willed qualities turned him into the elect of active part of the citizens of Donets Basin, and he received the mandate of trust of people on populous meeting on a central square as the national governor.

Attempts of Kiev to impose other candidates, in particular, the oligarch Taruta and attempts of the local management to make castling — to carry out transition of the former governor Shishatsky to a post of the head of the regional representative power stimulated this alternative line of direct, active action which is personified by this young politician even more.

Extraordinary session of regional council which according to the Kiev representatives had to settle all questions and lowers degree of civil resistance of the city, provoked emission of political adrenaline and public activity even more. And at this meeting Gubarev and his environment could impose the will to a deputy corps and actually transfer session work to other course. As a result everything came to the end with decisions on unacceptability of the power of Taruta and Shishatsky, and the last was compelled to escape from enraged citizens of Donets Basin. Gubarev and his staff remained in the building of the regional council and together with the activists control this «post» of the regional management.

— What decisions at this meeting were made concerning a referendum which has to take place in Donetsk region?

The special session of city council passed before these events, and in pursuance of the will of the citizens of Donets Basin, those people who declared the claim for political activity, the mayor Lukyanchenko declared that, following people requirements, deputies made the decision on holding a referendum on the status of Donetsk region. But every other day he kept separate from these words. Therefore the issue of a referendum still finally isn’t resolved. But it, certainly, warms up the public moods of the citizens of Donets Basin.

— How the inhabitants of Donetsk treat a situation in the Crimea? Are these events those to what they aspire in the activity?

For the vast majority of people who stand at walls of regional administration, the situation in the Crimea is similar to their opinions and expectations. Therefore one of the main slogans sounding now in the city is «Sevastopol — the Crimea — Donets Basin!» and «Russia!»