On Tuesday of April 14, Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin met with Sergei Mamedov, a member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. As part of his working visit to the Donetsk People’s Republic, the politician delivered personal protective gear including masks, protective coveralls, gloves and goggles as humanitarian aid, which will be transferred to the agencies engaged in anti-epidemic activities and sanitary control.

“I am glad to welcome you in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Attention of Russia, attention of the leadership of the Russian Federation to everything that happens in the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics is always important for us. And it is especially important in such hard times, when the whole world does not fully understand how to deal with the coronavirus infection, how to fight it, how to resist it,” Denis Pushilin said at the beginning of the meeting.

The Head of State spoke about the epidemiological situation in the Republic.

“The most important thing is that the population accepts it rather understandingly. There have not been any signs of panic. It is probably due to a number of reasons, but it is actually true.

There are people who worry a little bit more, nevertheless, everyone takes it appropriately and understands that the most important thing is self-discipline, limiting contacts to avoid serious outbreaks of the coronavirus infection.

There have been 18 laboratory-confirmed cases so far. Today, if I am not mistaken, is the fourth consecutive day since the last time the number of confirmed cases increased. This suggests that the measures being taken are effective for now. On the other hand, we are trying to maintain the balance, because we cannot afford to close down the enterprises and we assess it objectively,” Denis Pushilin stressed.

The Head of the DPR also said that access control had been introduced for the villagers of Novyi Svet, in whose territory the Starobeshevo thermal power station, a strategically important facility, is located.

“To ensure the safety of the specialists, who cannot be substituted,” Denis Pushilin explained.

“All appropriate measures ensuring the food security are being carried out, so that there would be no failures toward the civilian population. The situation is under control, although it creates certain inconveniences, of course. But there is no need to tell about these inconveniences, they are emerging all over the world, including in Russia, Moscow. We are watching very closely… In general, we are in the wake of the fight against the coronavirus infection. We see what measures are taken, what is done. We analyze what measures are taken in the regions, how the governors try to handle the situation, doing it without overreaches and ensuring at the same time that the measures are sufficient to avoid serious outbreaks of the coronavirus infection,” the Head of the DPR added.

“The balance of necessity and reasonableness is very important,” Sergei Mamedov stressed in turn. According to him, the Donetsk People’s Republic can always count on the support of the Russian Federation.

“We have a much more complicated situation today than in the Donetsk People’s Republic. But it started earlier, and yet, you know, there is Moscow… Many people were arriving, flying out, travelling. They brought the infection from wherever they could.

Taken all in all, the situation is quiet enough despite the fact that tomorrow we are sealing off Moscow, a number of other measures in other cities are being taken. But these measures are absolutely systematic, they are absolutely understandable. And there are no other options,” the senator stressed.

Sergei Mamedov added that he had been made aware of the measures taken by the Republic’s operational headquarters preventing the import and spread of the new coronavirus infection and considers them timely and reasonable.

At the end of the meeting, Denis Pushilin expressed the hope that the epidemic situation in the Republic would remain under control. In particular, he said, the decision whether Donetsk will have a parade dedicated to the Great Victory depends on it.

“There is no final decision yet. Everything that concerns the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory is very important. Holding the parade is a matter of principle for us. We are preparing. And if, let us say, we stay within such limits, such parameters, then, of course, the parade should be held on May 9,” the Head of State said.

“I have never missed a parade in Donetsk for the last five years. My grandfather fought here. So I really wish the situation stabilized by then,” Sergei Mamedov summed up.