Donetsk Republic (political party)
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Donetsk Republic
Донецкая республика |
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Leader | Alexander Zakharchenko Andrei Purgin Denis Pushilin Alexander Tsurkan Oleh Frolov |
Founded | December 9, 2005 |
Headquarters | Donetsk |
Membership | 140,000[1] |
Ideology | Russian nationalism Russophilia Federalism [2] |
Colours | Blue and Red |
People's Soviet |
68 / 100
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Website | |
Official website |
The Donetsk Republic (Russian: Донецкая республика, Donétskaya respúblika) is a pro-Russian separatist political party operating in the Donetsk area of Ukraine. The group's goal is the creation of a "federation of sovereign Donetsk", which would include seven regions of eastern and southern Ukraine.[3][4] The group was banned in 2007, but this ban was marginal until the 2014 Donbass War.[citation needed] In 2014, it founded the Donetsk People's Republic, which Ukraine's government calls a terrorist organization.[5] The party won the Donbass general elections, 2014 with the 68,53% and 68 seats.[6]
Contents
History[edit]
Before the Ukrainian crisis[edit]
The organization was established on December 6, 2005 as a city organization by Andrei Purguin, Alexander Tsurkan, and Oleh Frolov and on December 9, 2005 with support of Hennadiy Prytkov as a regional organization. The main goal of the organization was to grant the eastern regions of Ukraine a special status.[7] It claimed to fight the "orange plague" of President Viktor Yushchenko.[7] Their goal was to create a Federal Republic of Donetsk in Southeast Ukraine.[8] According to a map they published in 2006 this Federal Republic of Donetsk would comprise the (Ukrainian Oblasts) Kharkiv Oblast, Luhansk Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Zaporizhia Oblast and Kherson Oblast.[8] Its pre-2014 rallies were averagedly attended by about 30-50 people.[7]
From November 17 to November 22 of 2006, its activists were conducting protests in Donetsk and were gathering signatures on creation of the Donetsk Republic.[9] Their activities were not supported by the prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych.[10]
At the beginning of 2007, representatives of the organization conducted number of activities in various cities of eastern Ukraine propagating the idea of separatism and federalization of the country.[11]
The group was banned by Donetsk's administrative regional tribunal in November 2007 on grounds of separatism.[citation needed] Despite this, the party continued to hold rallies.
Ukrainian crisis[edit]
In 2014, the organization founded the Donetsk People's Republic, which Ukraine's government calls a terrorist organization.[5]
The group's leader, Andrei Purgin, was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest.[3][4]
The party won the Donbass general elections, 2014 with the 68,53% and 68 seats.[6] The Communist Party of the Donetsk People's Republic participates in the Donetsk Republic's parliamentary group.[2] In the election campaign prior to these elections only the candidate of Donetsk Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, used billboards.[12] This resulted to the only visible campaign advertising in Donetsk being in support of Zakharchenko.[13]
In the days and weeks prior till the postponement of the DNR October 2015 local elections (to 21 February 2016[14]) 90% of the (campaign) advertising was done by Donetsk Republic.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/alexander-j-motyl/kremlin-tightens-grip-devastated-donbas
- ^ a b http://dnr.today/news/spisok-deputatov-narodnogo-soveta-sozyva-2014-goda/
- ^ a b SBU detained the leader of Donetsk Republic. Espreso. March 19, 2014
- ^ a b Court banned the organization Donetsk Republic. Ura-Inform. November 12, 2007
- ^ a b "Ukraine's prosecutor general classifies self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk republics as terrorist organizations". Kyiv Post. 16 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Донецькі бойовики за ніч порахували голоси: "переміг" Захарченко".
- ^ a b c (Russian) Small bio of Andrei Purgin on Politrada
- ^ a b (Russian) What's "New Russia" and how to be, Ukrayinska Pravda (15 August 2014)
- ^ Signature collection for the independent Donetsk Republic. Russia-3.
- ^ UNIAN: Yanukovych against the Donetsk Republic. Donetsk Republic. November 23, 2006
- ^ Donetsk Republic presented Ukraine as united but divided. Ura-Inform. January 10, 2007
- ^ "Donetsk People's Republic campaign reveals shambolic tendencies". Financial Times. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ "Rebel-Backed Elections to Cement Status Quo in Ukraine". The New York Times. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ^ Pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine postpone disputed elections, Reuters (6 October 2015)
Ukraine rebels to delay elections, Washington Post (6 October 2015) - ^ (Ukrainian) Donbass postpones elections, Gazeta.ru (5 October 2015)
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Truth about the Donetsk separatists. New Region. September 14, 2006.