Wednesday, April 23 2014, 13:05
Judging by the latest events, there appears to be a big crack between the supporters of “Luhansk republic”. It became particularly evident on the post-Easter Monday, during the so-called People’s Gathering of Luhansk Region taking place on the territory of the captured premises of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Anyone who watched the live webcast of this event saw a scuffle between the supporters of Alexei Mozgovoi and Valeriy Bolotov barricaded with guns in the SBU. Many of those residents of Luhansk who sincerely advocate for federalization were probably taken aback by recriminations among the yesterday’s comrades in the struggle.
However, the truth will always surface. One only needs to analyze the previous and next steps of the both sides.
Malicious gossip has it that Alexei Mozgovoi has long been controlled by the regional unit of the Party of Regions (PoR). It was senior management of Luhansk PoR who dragged up this freelance writer, turning him into a star of local separatism. This very man became one of those who coordinated and instigated the capture SBU premises housing a huge stock of weapons. Later Mozgovoi went to Moscow, made speeches at several federal TV channels where he stated that “Southeast will never recognize Bandera junta.”
However, eventually the “lords” of Mozgovoi from Luhansk regional council apparently stroke a chord with the ‘damned Banderovites’ who ventured to encroach on their business. Therefore Mozgovoi, following the instructions of his puppeteers, has changed his rhetoric and says that there is no need for them to be separated from Ukraine, and “people will be able to defend their rights in any case.” In other words, “we won” – “everyone’s dismissed.”
However, the organizers of the separatist movement – Dobkin, Efremov, Gorokhov and their business partners – did not take into account the fact that they may lose grip on the situation. Inciting anti-Maidan and all kind of “guards” who get their hands on the military weapons, they failed to notice that they became pawns in the hands of Russia.
Now their portraits are exposed on the “boards of shame” next to Yushchenko, Tymoshenko, Turchynov, Yatsenyuk and Tyahnybok whom they used to hate, and the people unanimously labeled their former elect as traitors. Donbas residents put all their hopes and aspirations for a better life on the neighboring country and President Putin. This is exactly what Vladimir Putin was striving for.
And now the most interesting part. According to some activists who stay in the SBU premises with weapons but are capable to think rationally, their leaders receive orders directly from Moscow thanks to great American invention – the Internet. Russian political technology gurus tell the resistance leaders that Southeast needs to be rescued from the “bloody Banderovites” who are depicted in the neighboring Russia as a kind of radical Islamists from al-Qaeda.
Struggling for the Donbas territory – and this goal, according to the leading Russian politicians, is really strategic – they are ready to make some “small sacrifices.” Well, you know, like the ones in Sloviansk. Kill some combatants, accuse Pravy Sektor (Right Sector) of their death and incite indignant people to embark on a “holy war.” And, using this opportunity, to seize up a no small piece of Ukrainian land.
This is a scenario that is being prepared in Luhansk at the moment.
I would like to sum up by a quote from Taras Shevchenko: “In your own house you will see true justice, strength, and liberty!’.
If you want to live with dignity, then try hard to build your own house, rather than building your neighbor’s Tower of Babel.
Pavel Antizharov, for Ukrainska Pravda
Translated by Tanya Kononenko, edited by Inga Kononenko
