Donetsk and Luhansk Declare to be Independent Nations

Results from the pro-Russian separatist referendums in Donetsk and Luhansk show an overwhelming "yes" for self-rule in those regions and have declared themselves to be independent countries.

Ninety percent voted for independence from Ukraine according to results from the vote.

There was roughly a 70% turnout.

In Luhansk and Dontesk, 96% and 90% respectively voted for autonomy from the Ukraine.

Kiev and the West claimed that the referendum was illegal and that they would not recognize it as legitimate.  The Ukrainian government stated that the vote was "fascist".

"These attempts at referendums have zero credibility in the eyes of the world; they are illegal by anybody's standards--they don't meet any standard, no a single standard of objectivity, transparency, fairness, or being properly conducted," British MP William Hague told reporters.

Russia, on the other hand, stated that the will of the people must be respected.

"We respect the will of the population of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and hope the practical implantation of the outcome of the referendums will proceed along civilized lines without further outbreaks of violence, and through dialogue," Russian Diplomat Sergei Lavrov said.

Just two hours after the voting ended, the newly formed nation, the "People's Republic of Donetsk", asked to join Russia.

Russian MP Vyacheslav Nikonov stated that Moscow would have to contemplate the "economic, political, and military risks" before deciding whether or not to annex Donetsk and Luhansk.

It does seem though that he supports the regions' population, saying that "the residents of Luhansk and Donetsk deserve no less support from us, indeed they deserve much more support from us than the residents of Crimea."

Roman Lyagin, head of the de facto central election committee in Donetsk, stated that the region's population would be the ones to decide whether they would stay with Ukraine, or join Russia, or become an independent nation.

In Luhansk, Vasily Nikitin, deputy head of the separatist movement in the region, congratulated the beginning of the "Luhansk republic" and said: "We are now preparing an appeal to the U.N. and international community asking them to recognize us."

But it seems that some people in Luhansk don't just want to be an independent nation, but also apart of Russia.

Eighty year old Anatoly Sukharev, a resident of Luhansk, asked Mr. Nikitin on Monday: "What is next?  When are we going to have this referendum [to join Russia]?"

Vasily replied, saying that the "republic" needs to "organize as a country" before asking to join Russia.

He also said that the new country's constitution is nearly finished, and that the people of Luhansk would not participate in Ukraine's presidential election on May 25.

Donetsk authorities also stated they will not allow voting in the election.

The situation in Ukraine has steadily worsened ever since the ousting of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych followed by the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March.

The West and Kiev have repeatedly accused Russia of sending Russian special forces into eastern Ukraine to provoke pro-Russian activist to strike out against the Ukrainian government.

The U.S. and Ukrainian interim government has also claimed that Russia has been supplying the pro-Russian militants with weapons and supplies.

Moscow has continued to deny these claims, but that doesn't mean they aren't true.

Journalist in Ukraine have found at least partial evidence of Russia Moscow pro-Russian militants with weapons and equipment.

For example, in Vice's documentation of the crisis, Russian Roulette in Ukraine, U.S. journalist Simon Ostrovsky found supplies owned by pro-Russian activist that apparently was from Russia.

He also interviewed Russian military veterans who had come to Ukraine to help the Russian speaking population in eastern Ukraine.

And the "little green men", as some called them, that invaded Crimea back in March turned out to really be Russian soldiers.

Those "little green men" are the most Russian looking "militants" I've ever seen.  Maybe, it's because they're actually Russian soldiers!  Surprise!  Surprise!

While we're on the topic of Russian invasion, let's discuss the possibility of Russia sending in special forces to provoke the pro-Russian activist to lash out against Kiev and cry for independence.

If these accusations by the West are true, then Moscow did a great job pulling it off.  They already gained Crimea and it looks like they may very well gain Donetsk and Luhansk too.

As you can see, Donetsk and Luhansk are right next to Russia.  Crimea, however, is not.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's request for pro-Russian activist to postpone their referendum and conduct dialogue with the Ukrainian government may have just been a political move by him to cover up what his real plans are.

Now that is just a conspiracy theory of mine that has no proof, but it seems like a great plan.  After all, with all those sanctions being thrown at his inner circle, it would make sense that he would want to appear as if he backed off from his aggressive attitude in Ukraine.

But what do I know?  I'm just some American highschooler writing up facts and opinions on a blog that no one reads.  (No, that is not a gripe, it is a fact).

Moving on to legality of a referendum, after doing a bit of research I managed to find this, the written law of referendums in Ukraine.

It is fairly long so here are the highlights:

• An all-Ukrainian referendum is a supreme form of direct democracy, and an expression of free will of Ukrainian citizens.
• Any issue may become subject of an all-Ukrainian referendum with an exception of those prohibited by the Constitution of Ukraine.
•  An all-Ukrainian referendum called by the public initiative is a way of citizens to adopt decisions on all issues with the exception of those stipulated by the Article 74 of the Constitution of Ukraine (in reference to draft laws on taxing policies, budget and amnesty).
• An all-Ukrainian referendum on changing the territory of Ukraine is a way for citizens to approve/disapprove a draft law on international agreement ratification on changing the territory of Ukraine. The president is to conclude an international agreement ratification, and then to submit this document to review at the Verkhovna Rada.
• The Verkhovna Rada is to declare an all-Ukrainian referendum on the territorial changes of Ukraine.

But I think it's this part that is most important in determining if the referendum held by the pro-Russian separatist was illegal or not.

• The decision to appoint an all-Ukrainian referendum on changing the territory of Ukraine is approved by the decree of Verkhovna Rada.

That pretty much speaks for itself.  The Verkhovna Rada, A.K.A. the Supreme Council of Ukraine, legally decides whether or not to hold a referendum on the changing of territory of Ukraine.

(Interesting note: The Verkhovna Rada declared Ukraine's Independence in 1991.)

But the laws of a country don't mean jack when its people refuse to obey them.  And no matter how much Kiev and the West cry out that the referendum by pro-Russian activist is illegal illegitimate, it isn't going to stop them from continuing with their independence from Ukraine.

Everyday it looks more and more like the country is heading towards a civil-war.

I think Maxim, a 28 year-old citizen of Andreevka, a small village outside of Slovyansk, summed up what a lot of Ukrainian are feeling right now: "I am ready to accept any government, just to make it calm again."

Maxim holding his bald kitties.  Photo by Harriet Salem, Vice News.