Russian agents working to fuel separatism, ruin vote, Parubiy says

With Russian support, separatists intend to elect a president of southeastern Ukraine by the end of April, said on April 2 Andriy Parubiy, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. The president would lead a parallel government demanding integration into the Russian Federation. Russian intelligence agents are working with town and village council members to convince them of the need for a referendum and joining Russia, Parubiy said.

The National Security and Defense Council is creating a division that will work to prevent Russian attempts to undermine the May 25 presidential election, Parubiy reported. “We will monitor all movements that have as their goal undermining the elections and we will, having monitored them, halt any attempts to undermine the elections,” he said. The division will include international experts from the OSCE.

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said on April 2 the legitimacy of the May 25 vote is highly questionable, particularly its turnout and results. “I think it won’t benefit Ukraine’s people and partners,” he told journalists in Rostov, Russia. He also called for a referendum on creating a federal government in Ukraine.

Donetsk state utility and maintenance workers are being forced to sign petitions calling for a referendum for the oblast’s self-determination, stated on April 2 Dmitry Verzilov, a former district councilman in the city. “In a voluntary-forceful way with threats, each tram driver is forced to support holding a separatist referendum,” he said. “Drivers are also forced to sign demands for recognizing the Russian language as the second state language and joining the Customs Union.” He said the local government is responsible for stoking separatism.

Zenon Zawada: It’s apparent the Russian federalization operation in southeastern Ukraine will continue for many months. The Kyiv government will have to work seriously to undermine these efforts by offering citizens economic stability and growth. Russian efforts could be successful only if conditions in Ukraine worsen this year, giving dissatisfied residents of the southeastern regions the pretext to support such federalization campaigns, which they are currently reluctant to do.