This weekend rallies in support of the federalization of Ukraine took place in the cities of South-Eastern Ukraine such as Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv. The deputies of the Donetsk region today proclaimed the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to impose a temporary peacekeeping contingent.In response, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Turchynov promised "anti-terrorist activities", while Prime Minister Yatsenyuk warned of using all legal methods to stabilize the situation in the south-east of the country.As political analyst Alexei Poltorakov said in an interview to Vestnik Kavkaz, Kiev should have introduced a state of emergency at least a month ago. He also stressed that election campaigns cannot be held during an emergency situation according to the constitution of Ukraine. "Moreover, a state of emergency is the first step towards martial law, which Kiev has been trying to avoid, because it would mean de facto a civil war." Poltorakov believes that events in Donetsk will develop according to the Crimean scenario, but with far less unpredictable results. "It is unlikely that this region will be kept under control," the expert says.This weekend rallies in support of the federalization of Ukraine took place in the cities of South-Eastern Ukraine such as Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv. The deputies of the Donetsk region today proclaimed the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to impose a temporary peacekeeping contingent.
In response, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Turchynov promised "anti-terrorist activities", while Prime Minister Yatsenyuk warned of using all legal methods to stabilize the situation in the south-east of the country.
As political analyst Alexei Poltorakov said in an interview to Vestnik Kavkaz, Kiev should have introduced a state of emergency at least a month ago. He also stressed that election campaigns cannot be held during an emergency situation according to the constitution of Ukraine.
"Moreover, a state of emergency is the first step towards martial law, which Kiev has been trying to avoid, because it would mean de facto a civil war."
Poltorakov believes that events in Donetsk will develop according to the Crimean scenario, but with far less unpredictable results. "It is unlikely that this region will be kept under control," the expert says.
