Restoring Donbas: main events during the 25-31 May

15:02 / 01 Jun. 2015 / 1015

State agency of Donbas restoring has not began its work. However, it would obtain new functions. Ukraine expects for receiving international assistance on restoring of the Eastern regions. The line of demarcation, pass-entry system in ATO area are perceived diametrically opposite by Ukrainian authorities and representatives of Donetsk and Lugansk regions. All this was written in the media last week. More details in our weekly review of key news.

On Donbas territory, which is controlled by Ukraine

State Agency of Donbas restoring will have new functions and will be involved in new areas. It was stated by Gennady Zubko, Deputy Prime Minister last week. He said: “This agency will start its work, but it will have new directions of the work and new functions”.

Vice Prime Minister noted that the Agency would deal with the humanitarian area. It would help people, who have moved from the Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, raise funds from various humanitarian organizations, including international. The agency was created in September 2014, but its head had been working for 22 days. He was lustrated. The agency have not began its real work.

It also became known that at the beginning of April the government of Ukraine and Germany signed a Memorandum on cooperation. It was signed an agreement with a credit institution (KfW) «on provision of individual loans (total amount – 500 million euros) to support Ukrainian economy, including the restoration of the damaged infrastructure of Donetsk and Lugansk regions”. Ukraine also ratified the financial agreement between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank (emergency loan program for the restoration of Ukraine). The total amount of the loan is equal to 200 million euros.

In addition, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Prime Minister, said that the German government has allocated 500 million euros to Ukraine for energy modernization and restoration of Donbas.

Meanwhile, Avdeevka byproduct plant was reopened. According to the press service of “Metinvest”, it was renovated necessary minimum equipment affected by the attacks – in particular, three out of the four high-voltage input were restored, in order to resume production.

Lugansk thermal power plant has resumed its work after a forced idle. One of the two operating units have stopped because of the shelling. As a result, the north of Luhansk region has been partially de-energized. At night, electricians of DTEK Company restored electricity.

The absence of intense clashes brought good news for Mariupol. It is planned to restore railway connection with other cities of Ukraine there. Trains will follow the route to Kiev and Lviv from 1 June.

On the territory of the unrecognized republics

Among the peaceful news, there was an information that students of DNR and LNR receive diplomas of Russian universities. In particular, last week, Luhansk students received diplomas of a Russian university. More than 20 students received bachelors and specialist of Voronezh State Agrarian University named after Peter the Great. In order to present theses, as well as take state exams, students went directly to Voronezh.

Valentina Tkachenko, Acting Minister of Education and Science of LNR, noted that 1,400 students of Lugansk Agricultural University would receive diplomas of Voronezh University.

This week, it was reported that 340 graduates of secondary and vocational and technical institutions of DNR went to Rostov-on-Don to take the Unified State Exam. “There will be sent six more flights. The following flights will take place on 4, 8, 11, 15 and 17 June”. It was said by representatives of DNR.

Meanwhile, the leadership of DNR claimed that the holding of elections in the unrecognized republics is possible only after the establishment of relevant legislative field together with LNR and after obtaining of special status by Donbas region. It was stated by Vladislav Daynego, commissioner from LNR, during Minsk negotiations.

This week, Andrei Purgin, “chairman of the national council” of the self-proclaimed DNR stated that there is no necessity in new referendum on the status of the Donbas.

Displaced persons from Donbas

Last week, it was arranged a round table, where civil activists and government representatives discussed the problems, which IDPs from ATO are cope with. The initiator of the meeting was the community initiative “Restoring Donbas” in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute of Global Strategies of development and adaptation.

According to Elena Petryaeva, the head of the community initiative “Restoring Donbas”, nowadays, in Ukraine there is no consistency in decision-making and policy formulation concerning the displaced persons of Donbas. Petryaeva emphasizes that this is due to the absence of a single institution that would be responsible for the displaced persons and work with them in Ukraine.

The only output of situation could be establishment of a special authority in the format of the Ministry or the authorized person (profile prime-minister). Another option would be an independent agency, possibly established on the basis of social organization. Both options should be carried out with obligatory participation of international experts and compulsory public control over the work of this organization. Employment agencies have to be absolutely transparent.

Elena Petryaeva noted: “This will create an effective mediator between the government and displaced persons. One of the first steps of this ministry should be developing of comprehensive programs that do not provide large expenses from the state budget, but contribute to the economic activity of IDPs. First of all, it is about state programs on employment and accommodation”.

A similar initiative was made by the Odessa public figures, who have decided to deal with employment of IDPs. They made up their mind to create a Center of opportunities for displaced persons.

There will be organized trainings on job search, CV writing, maintaining a database of applicants and nominate employers.

Pass-entry system

This week it became known that crossing of the boundary line in Luhansk region would become even more complicated. Gennady Moskal, the Head of the Lugansk regional military-civilian administration, ordered to intensify control over the demarcation line for “preventing its unauthorized crossing by pedestrians and cars.”

Alexander Kikhtenko, the chairman of the Donetsk regional military-civilian administration, believes that law enforcement officers should work more effectively at checkpoints on the demarcation line in order to avoid long queues. The press service of the Governor noted that during a trip to the sector “C” in ATO area, Alexander Kikhtenko personally faced with many kilometers queue to “Artemivsk” control point of entry – exit. In fact, checks last much longer than it is established by law. That is why people cannot exercise their constitutional right of free movement and to visit friends and relatives, who live on uncontrolled territories.

This week, it became known that it is possible to found readiness of a pass in ATO area in sector “C” through the Internet. Nowadays, in Artemovsk everyone can check the readiness of their pass through the Internet, on the web-site artemivsksectjrc.jimdo.com.

Meanwhile, Arsen Avakov, Ministry of Internal Affairs, offered to block the movement of trucks on the territory controlled by DNR and LNR, as well as to carry out 100% tax on Ukrainian goods. Thus, the minister wants to fight with corruption, which is prevailing in checkpoints.

Ilya Kiva, the deputy chief of Interior Ministry of Ukraine in Donetsk region, went even further and called for civil society activists to block the running of buses “Donetsk-Kyiv-Donetsk”. He said that he would like to shot all the “travelers to DNR,” – people, who cross the demarcation line in ATO area. It was written on his page in Facebook.

International situation

Last week, Donbass was published in the UK in the list of places where the terrorist attack is more likely.
It is proven by the research of Verisk Maplecroft analyst firm, published in The Daily Mail. Belfast in Northern Ireland was found as the most dangerous city among the cities of Western Europe. It is followed by Paris and Athens. Ukrainian settlements from ATO area are not on the top 10 most dangerous places on the planet, but they are included in the common list.

The UN has stated that 3.2 million residents of Eastern Ukraine requires humanitarian assistance. In addition, United Nations has expressed concern about the armed clashes in the East of Ukraine and the continuing of mass population movements. Only in the last few weeks, tens thousands of Ukrainians joined the ranks of displaced persons and refugees.

In the meantime, the Security Service has agreed with other international organization – Amnesty International – on the joint investigation of all citizen’s complaints about the improper treatment. It was stated by Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine. The scandal unfolded after reporting of Amnesty International organization that both parties use torture to prisoners in the East of Ukraine. The majority of the cruelest acts occurs in unofficial places. The Security Service claimed that it does not keep prisoners and detainees on suspicion of committing crimes uses only legal action.

The restoring-donbass.com website - is an interactive platform, which was created by the "Restoring Donbas" community initiative of Oleksandr Klymenko. The latest news, blogs and analysis, background information and useful ads for IDPs and Donbas residents are available on the website.