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.[2][3] The group was banned in 2007, but this ban was marginal until the 2014 Donbass War.[4][5] In 2014, it founded the Donetsk People's Republic, which Ukraine's government calls a terrorist organization.[4] The party won the Donbass general elections, 2014 with the 68,53% and 68 seats.[6]

History

Map of Ukraine with the 2006 proposed Federal Republic of Donetsk in red.

Before the Ukrainian crisis

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.[5] It claimed to fight the "orange plague" of President Viktor Yushchenko.[5] Their goal was to create a Federal Republic of Donetsk in Southeast Ukraine.[7] 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.[7] Its pre-2014 rallies were averagedly attended by about 30-50 people.[5]

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.[8] Their activities were not supported by the prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych.[9]

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.[10]

The group was banned by Donetsk's administrative regional tribunal in November 2007 on grounds of separatism. Despite this, the party continued to hold rallies.[5]

Ukrainian crisis

In 2014, the organization founded the Donetsk People's Republic, which Ukraine's government calls a terrorist organization.[4]

The group's leader, Andrei Purgin, was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest.[2][3]

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.[11] 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

  1. ^ http://dnr.today/news/spisok-deputatov-narodnogo-soveta-sozyva-2014-goda/
  2. ^ a b SBU detained the leader of Donetsk Republic. Espreso. March 19, 2014
  3. ^ a b Court banned the organization Donetsk Republic. Ura-Inform. November 12, 2007
  4. ^ a b c "Ukraine's prosecutor general classifies self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk republics as terrorist organizations". Kyiv Post. 16 May 2014. 
  5. ^ a b c d e (Russian) Small bio of Andrei Purgin on Politrada
  6. ^ a b "Донецькі бойовики за ніч порахували голоси: "переміг" Захарченко". 
  7. ^ a b (Russian) What's "New Russia" and how to be, Ukrayinska Pravda (15 August 2014)
  8. ^ Signature collection for the independent Donetsk Republic. Russia-3.
  9. ^ UNIAN: Yanukovych against the Donetsk Republic. Donetsk Republic. November 23, 2006
  10. ^ Donetsk Republic presented Ukraine as united but divided. Ura-Inform. January 10, 2007
  11. ^ http://dnr.today/news/spisok-deputatov-narodnogo-soveta-sozyva-2014-goda/
  12. ^ "Donetsk People's Republic campaign reveals shambolic tendencies". Financial Times. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014. 
  13. ^ "Rebel-Backed Elections to Cement Status Quo in Ukraine". The New York Times. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014. 
  14. ^ Pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine postpone disputed elections, Reuters (6 October 2015)
    Ukraine rebels to delay elections, Washington Post (6 October 2015)
  15. ^ (Ukrainian) Donbass postpones elections, Gazeta.ru (5 October 2015)

External links

People's Soviet (100)