Rally dedicated to anniversary of Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic’s proclamation held in Donetsk

On February 12, at the monument to Artyom in Donetsk was held a solemn meeting devoted to the 99th anniversary of the creation of the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic. The event was attended by the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Zakharchenko and the Chairman of the People’s Council Denis Pushilin.

Alexander Zakharchenko congratulated those present on the 99th anniversary of the DKR’s founding, and noted that the idea of establishing an independent state on the territory of Donbass in being realized now in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

“Dear compatriots! I would like to draw your attention to the fact, what a vast geography the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic has: it includes Kharkov, Kherson, Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk. Today, therefore, it would be wrong to speak of the Dnepropetrovsk and the Kharkov People’s Republic alone.

Ninety-nine years ago, our ancestors made a decisive action – they refused to stay on the ruins of the empire and immerse into the chaos, which began after. They created the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic. And though they failed, almost 100 years later, we – the successors of the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic – created the Donetsk People’s Republic. And today it is an independent state. Now we live in a free country. And historical justice requires us to the DKR returned to its historical borders.

You know, we have already won. Kiev is already afraid of us. What is happening on their territory – it is the agony of the regime, which is about to collapse. But after the victory we will have to rebuild our country, make it prosperous. And I’m sure – our ancestors dreamed about the same. And together with you we will make their dream a reality! Our country will be free, prosperous and independent!” Alexander Zakharchenko claimed.

In turn, Denis Pushilin stressed that Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic is part of the history of Donbass, and noted that the experience of our ancestors is very important to consider in the construction of the young state.

“Dear friends, today we pay tribute to our extensive history, part of which, of course, is the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic. It was the first attempt to create an independent state in our territory. May it did not succeed, either way, we must take into account the errors of the past. Our history is very important to us, because only those who honour history and respect the tradition will have a future. Those who forget the past will face the fate of the ‘united Ukraine.’

We are building a young Republic, and should treat this with the utmost responsibility. Our future is in our hands, behind our shoulders – the heroic past, so I’m sure that we will succeed,” Denis Pushilin said.

In conclusion, Denis Pushilin recalled that at the moment both People’s Republics launched a campaign to collect signatures on a joint appeal to the heads of the Russian Federation, the United States and Germany. The DPR People’s Council Chairman asked the citizens to support the initiative of the parliaments of the DPR and the LPR and show their civil activity.

“Each of your signatures to the joint appeal is very important to us, and I believe that this would actually lead to the result, though not to as fast as we would like. We must understand that the world situation is constantly changing. Perhaps in the near future the US position on the conflict, which Ukraine has mired in, will change.

But I can say with confidence that the people of Donbass – these are the people who in all possible ways, including by force of arms, protect their interests, their right to self-determination, the right to speak in their native language. So I ask to take responsibility in the process of collecting signatures, because it is important for each of us,” Denis Pushilin concluded.