When Kiev failed to introduce a national venue for reconciliation, Donetsk realized once and for all that Donbass and Ukraine have no common future, Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin said in an interview with Ukraina.ru.
— Mr. Pushilin, in your interviews and statements you have always adhered to the following position: the only path Donbass has is the integration and accession into Russia. Of course, the central authorities of Ukraine officially see Donbass as a part of Ukraine. Unlike Poroshenko, they suggest some options… So, Sergey Sivokho, a native of Donetsk, who initiated the establishment of a national venue for reconciliation, was supposed to make a presentation the other day, but radicals and nationalists thwarted it… Tell me, what is your attitude to what is going on, to Sivokho and to the presentation?
— I do not know who would take him positively if he [Sivokho – ed. note] ended up in Donetsk right now. He already has got a negative reputation, because he is involved with the Kiev authorities one way or another, he is an adviser to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, who supports the bombardment, destruction and so on against us. Our people know, understand, see everything with their own eyes. The rampant nationalism, the dictate of nationalism of the central Kiev authorities in its most vivid manifestations. We all have seen that…
I feel pity for him. I think that it was not Sivoho who was humiliated. It was the whole Kiev government who were humiliated, Zelensky himself and any peaceful, albeit very illusive, initiatives.
In this respect, it is very unfortunate, of course. We mean no gloat, especially towards the weak. At the same time, we also do not have prospects for a dialogue at this stage, which they so much talk about… We are extremely skeptical about that. The current Kiev authorities are too weak, too toothless to grind those nationalists, whom they have brought up over the past six years. They were taken advantage of at some point, but now they are getting a place in the sun. In conjunction with some figures, I mean the Minister of Internal Affairs, they represent a certain power.
This is what we see… It is a good thing we are getting farther and farther away from that. We, our citizens, would rather look up to Russia, which is making progress no matter what, getting stronger no matter what, which cares for its citizens and puts the interests of its citizens first.
— Last week, there was a meeting between Kozak and Yermak, so some panic thoughts came up, that Donbass is being pushed back to Ukraine… So now, in mid-March, do you remain committed to the integration of Donbass with Russia?
— Firmly and determinedly. Donbass is continuing its integration with the Russian Federation. We are leaning toward it.
Indeed, there are the Minsk Agreements. Unprecedented steps are being taken to finally make Ukraine fulfil Ukraine its obligations. But then again, these steps are taken by Russia, Donetsk and Lugansk. As for return moves… Alas, they are too feigned. We are skeptical about that.
At the same time, you should understand that if the Minsk Agreements were implemented fully as written, it would not create any obstacle to our rapprochement with Russia. We have always had it at top of mind.
— About two months ago you said that Russian would be the only state language in the Donetsk People’s Republic. And just a week ago, the People’s Council made the decision. What does it mean for Donbass?
— This decision meets the current demands of the citizens of the Republic and the current state of affairs. At one time, one of the demonstrative steps was to enshrine the two state languages in the Constitution, when we still had a feeling that it was possible to politically settle the confrontation between the post-Maidan Kiev and Donetsk, which opposed Maidan and did not follow them.
The war has been ongoing for six years. The Ukrainian language is fading away as unnecessary… An increasing number of citizens get convinced that children should not learn the Ukrainian language under constraint. All of these factors prompted to deprive this language of the state status, while at the same time providing the opportunity to study it at will. It will be an elective like other languages — Ukrainian, Armenian, Greek, Tatar, and any other language.
If parents have such a will, if there is a corresponding capacity at an educational institution, it may be studied. But if there is no such will, why do we have to impose it? The Russian language has taken its rightful place.
— The process of acquiring Russian citizenship by citizens of the Donetsk People’s Republic has been launched. Is there an exact figure, how many people have already obtained citizenship? And one more thing — on April 22, a referendum will be held in Russia on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and, as I take it, citizens of the Russian Federation will also be able to vote in this referendum here [in the Republic]. Tell us how this process will be held in the DPR, how and where will polling stations be equipped? Will you also participate in the referendum?
— Technical issues are being worked out, there is still time. There is a large number of citizens [of the Russian Federation], it has already exceeded 100 thousand, this includes the Lugansk People’s Republic. Accordingly, these are certain resources and components. Therefore, I personally can speak for myself — I will vote because I understand that the amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation directly affect our future, affect those who are citizens of the Russian Federation. I feel the need to vote in the referendum.
— This year the Russian Federation will be celebrating 75 years since the Great Victory Day. How is Donetsk People’s Republic preparing to celebrate this 75th anniversary?
— Firstly, we have declared 2020 the Year of the Great Victory. Secondly, the parade, as in previous years, will take place here [in the Republic], but it will be larger in scale and more interesting. I do not want to be forward, but it will be an unusual parade.
As for other events, the whole year will be very busy. Both social movements and youth organizations are participating in the process. We are bending every effort to make sure that the memory of the Great Victory continues to live in future generations. If we allow at least the idea that this issue can be underestimated, we will lose our identity, we will simply dissolve as a people. There is no future without the foundation of the past. We know our history and we honour it.
— What is the current state of the economy of the Donetsk People’s Republic, given that you [the Republic] are under a blockade imposed by Ukraine? Perhaps in Minsk there is any agreement regarding Ukraine’s lifting the blockade? As a matter of fact, is there any prospect of its lifting or not?
— We demand that from Ukraine on a regular basis, but on their part, there are no steps to address this issue. And so far we haven’t even counted on it. We are developing only through cooperation with Russia within the framework of the relationships that we have today.
— There is an epidemic of coronavirus, quarantines are imposed everywhere — transportation has been brought to a halt, new people do not arrive, etc. How are you getting ready for this epidemic? What is your situation like in general?
— An Operational Headquarters to Identify and Counteract the Spread of Coronavirus has been established. In this case, it would be unwise to let fear take hold. All necessary steps are being taken at the Republic’s checkpoints of entry and departure. Now there is being prepared equipment for the appropriate measures complex implementation.
There were reports of several people suspected of being infected with coronavirus, but after we had received tests, they were tested negative, the diagnosis was not confirmed. Therefore, those people will be quarantined for a two weeks and after another test they will be allowed to return home. So far, not a single case of coronavirus has been detected in the Donetsk People’s Republic.