Monday, May 19, 2014
The owner of System Capital Management (SCM) Rinat Akhmetov urged workers of his enterprises to go on a warning strike against separatism, emphasizing that he is categorically against the so-called ‘People’s Republic of Donetsk.’
This was stated in his emergency declaration, which was broadcast on the channel Ukraine, interrupting a film screening.
The oligarch is outraged that people with machine guns and grenade launchers are openly walking the streets of Donbas, there is bloodshed and that people with the slogan ‘Kyiv should hear us’ are engaged in looting and robberies.
“Is this what you call a peaceful life?” asked Akhmetov.
He recalled that on Monday 50,000 people in Mariupol wanted to come out for the peace march against bloodshed. However, after learning that the separatists were ready to use machine guns against peaceful protestors, he asked staff of his companies to suspend it.
“Pause it, but not to stop it. Because if we stop, blood will pour as it did before,” said Akhmetov.
“I want to tell everyone: You will not intimidate us. We will not be stopped. Everybody, including those who call themselves some kind of Donetsk Republic. Who has heard of it?” he asked rhetorically, “Who knows the names of the leaders of the ‘People’s Republic of Donetsk’? What have they done for Donbas?”
Akhmetov called Donbas labourers to carry out a warning strike across the entire region. “I call on all labour groups to go out tomorrow for a warning protest in the workplace. This meeting will begin tomorrow at noon with a tone that will sound, for all the enterprises of Donbas, in support of peace and against bloodshed. And until peace prevails, every day at 12:00 across the entire Donbas that tone will sound,” he said.
Source-Ukrainska Pravda: http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/05/19/7025818/
Translated by Olena Wawryshyn
