Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin gave an interview to Russian Spring, in which he touched upon a number of pressing matters concerning the future of the Republic, including the problem of Ukrainian passports, the Head’s Administration reports.
Thus, replying to a journalist’s question whether the DPR will continue its course towards Russia in 2020, Denis Pushilin answers that our grand purpose is to return to our historic Homeland as part of the whole of Russia.
“Our commitment to the chosen course is enshrined in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Donetsk People’s Republic, which clearly states that the history of development and establishment of the territories forming the Donetsk People’s Republic demonstrates the inseparable connection between the DPR and the Russian Federation. It is a document for the future, so we will continue to develop the integration processes with Russia in 2020.
Our partnership is strengthening and gaining momentum. Another important step that we plan to take in the next few years is bringing pensions and salaries to the level of the Rostov region of the Russian Federation.
The current Ukrainian government and we have different paths to follow: our roads parted six years ago. They chose the path of nationalism and Russophobia, which we categorically do not accept.
No one can tell us who to be friends with, how to build our foreign and domestic policy. Only the people of Donbass can make such decisions. Therefore, our course towards Russia remains unchanged in 2020,” the DPR Head answered.
There was also a question about Ukraine’s compliance with the ceasefire and Zelensky’s statements about the reestablishment of peace in the land of Donbass.
“Ukraine violates its ceasefire commitments every day. The frontline areas of the Republic are still affected by their attacks.
Moreover, agreements on the withdrawal of weapons are violated, and they commit provocations to hinder the activities of the OSCE SMM in Donbass. In particular, the AFU, having intercepted the Mission’s UAV, captured the device and seized all its data from the storage medium. We unequivocally realize that the Kiev authorities would rather cover up the crimes they committed against the residents of Donbass than stop the aggression.
If the talks and statements about peace on the part of Zelensky were lip service, it would probably not be so bad for us. Unfortunately, the facts prove that Zelensky and his team have something else in mind, with words and messages they cover up not just inaction, but also the escalation of military activity.
There is no alternative to the Minsk Agreements. But Ukraine constantly finds some pretexts to alter their meaning, and the process is dragged on forever. The duality of the Ukrainian side is over the top. And no one in the Republic cherishes illusions about Kiev,” Denis Pushilin commented.
The Head of the DPR also answered the hottest issue, which worries the residents of the state, about Ukrainian passports in the Republic.
“To date, almost 62 thousand residents of the Republic have already acquired Russian citizenship. And every day there are only more and more people willing to apply.
We do not yet have a fundamental law on citizenship, and its adoption will be possible only after Ukraine fulfills its commitments under the Minsk Agreements. Therefore, the Ukrainian passport is currently a legal identity document and has the same legal force as the passport of a DPR or Russian citizen. Banning its use in the territory of the Republic is not being considered now,” Denis Pushilin said.
Answering the journalist’s question about the number of prisoners in the territory of Ukraine, the Head of State said that as of January 13, 2020, representatives of the Donetsk People’s Republic searched for about 148 people in the Ukraine-controlled territory. Another 465 people are reported missing.
“We are looking forward to seeing that all our people who are being detained by Ukraine get home. But before the decision on the exchange was not made at the level of the Normandy Four, the matter did not gain traction, and Ukraine was slowing down the process in every possible way. The exchange, as we know, took place on December 29, 2019, and 60 people returned to the Republic.
Our negotiators in Minsk are doing everything possible to exchange “all identified for all identified”. Unfortunately, it is extremely problematic to reach an agreement with the Ukrainian side,” Denis Pushilin explained.
In conclusion, Denis Pushilin told about what he had learned in the office of Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic for the last year.
“I had no illusions that changes for the better would come instantly. Still, I expected that it would be possible to solve much more problems in a year. I thought that if there were a political will for significant changes, the result would not keep waiting. Alas, the dependence of socio-economic performance on it is far from linear.
In addition to obvious deterrents, such as the ongoing armed conflict, the non-recognition of the Republic, the number of problems at whichever facility, there are other factors: the state system is not ready for rapid change, the lack of qualified personnel who can make responsible decisions amid constant challenges, the lack of competent officials for whom honest service to their people is paramount.
We will continue to improve this state of affairs in a comprehensive manner. My team is determined to implement non-standard decisions, we know what to do. I am sure that Donbass will see better times come,” Denis Pushilin concluded.