Ukraine crisis: Security guard job was boring, says 'prime minister' of Donetsk

For the past fortnight, Denis Pushilin, the prime minister of the temporary government of the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk has presided, at least ostensibly, over a pro-Russian uprising that has seized town halls, police stations and other buildings in about ten towns across eastern Ukraine.

Few people in Donetsk had heard of the diminutive, smartly dressed 32-year-old businessman until he emerged as a leader of the group that occupied the regional administration building here two weeks ago.

Born and raised in Makeyevka, just outside Donetsk, he graduated from the local engineering college and came out of his national service in the Ukrainian army unsure what to do.

"I tried being a security guard, but it didn't last a month. It was boring," he said.There followed stints in advertising and a period at a regional confectionary and baked products distribution firm, before he got involved with MMM, the company behind a notorious pyramid scheme that deprived thousands of Russian investors of up to $10 million in the early 1990s (he denies any wrong doing).

The city's residents have all heard of him now. On April 6 several hundred pro-Russian separatist protesters stormed the regional government building here, appointed a people's council and demanded a referendum on regional status.

Mr Pushilin was elected chairman of this people's council. With the "people's governor," the separatist leader Pavel Gubarev, already in prison, he effectively became head of the republic.

Governors are appointed by Kyiv, city mayors are elected.

Decentralization was one of demands when the protests started back in November, and governors to be elected was one of the examples. The new government has been calling for the decentralization laws, but, alas, they’re still working on it in the Parliament. (I might have a post with their list of things to do, from before they came to power)

This Russian invasion came as an unwelcome distraction. Instead of analyzing and vetting every government appointment and policy, the attention turned to Crimea, Donbas and Ukraine’s military readiness. Many of these problems could be helped with new legislature, but the Parliament is dragging its feet. (By design, incompetence, pettiness, greed, etc?)

Federalization, the other dirty f-word, is de-facto break up of Ukraine so it’s little wonder Russia is pushing hard for it. But, if Ukraine was to go with Russian “federalization” model, where everything is decided in Moscow, leaving decisions like garbage pickup at the local level, then Kyiv has little to worry about in accepting it.

(Shockingly, when Yanukovich was running the whole country there was hardly a whisper from Donbas about federalization)

You are assuming Puny, that I have a side in what's happening in Ukraine..I don't. But I am a realist and the evidence continues to be clear that the people of Ukraine have little to do with what is happening now in the direction Ukraine will go....it passed from their hands when the Private Sector took control of their protest, and this with assistance from the US in positioning the Interim Governing body........Need you be reminded of Nulands comments of who should assume official positions long before the gov. had toppled? It's on tape and well known.....

No-body's denigrating the Ukrainian people....they just understand the the state of affairs the country is in and has been, for they continue to miss opportunities given them by electing the same Oligarchs that got them in this state of affairs in the first place.... take a look at who is running...they still haven't learned!

There are powers that be who determine how this plays out now, regardless of what the people might want otherwise.... They have 'NO MONEY' therefore 'No Power".... to do anything with, or influence anywhere....that's just how it is.

Has Ukraine received any money other than enough to stabilize the gov? No. and they won't because they have chosen thus far not to go fully with the EU and live under austerity... The EU is only going so far in helping them (trade etc. with a return for that )because they do not want a welfare state added to the ones already dragging the EU down.

Ukraines have their stories....they've been heard for many years and little changes from the last chapter shared......instead of complaining they need to figure out how to work with what they got and make it beneficial for the nation...I don't see that happening without Russia's help...and though some don't like it..that is what it is.

If I don't like my boss, but have no place to go otherwise, I'm going to utilize what I can within that environment. And if it's unbearable...I'll pick up and leave the area altogether. Won't be the first time people move from one country to another for the freedoms they seek.

A contradiction. You have no side in the matter, but you're sure that Ukrainian fascists under the control of the U.S. and the EU are responsible, and this based on non-existent evidence put out by the Kremlin. The effect of this propaganda is entirely agreeable to Russia's purposes. The KGB has long trafficked in creating moral ambivalence and even outright self-loathing in its intended victims.

Need you be reminded of Nulands comments of who should assume official positions long before the gov. had toppled? It's on tape and well known.....

Nulands comments occurred during the Maidan in February, not "long before." Nor is there anything in the tapes that suggest that the USA is in control of Yanukovich's thugs, the Maidan protestors, or anyone else. Her opinion of who should do what is not evidence that the United States can make it happen.

No-body's denigrating the Ukrainian people....

And yet, the Ukrainian people are described as having conducted a "Putsch," even though even Yanukovich's own party declared that he repeatedly ignored them and refused to deescalate the crisis, which finally culminated with violence. This is merely extreme ignorance about what the Maidan was all about, which was not populated with, perhaps, "Right Sector," who are only a fringe party, but with Ukrainians from all walks of life. It was a Jewish commander, by the way, who was leading the Right Sector self-defense group at the time!

for they continue to miss opportunities given them by electing the same Oligarchs

Look at you, now all of a sudden an expert in Ukrainian politics! So this the Ukrainians are clearly incompetent to run their own government, obviously we need the Russians to do it for them! Listen closely to what you're saying.

There are powers that be who determine how this plays out now

Let me guess, Soros, Obama, the Illuminati, Jewish Bankers, the Free Masons, etcetera. This trash conspiracy nonsense, again, continually ignores what the Ukrainians have to say for themselves. In the end, I'm going to have to stick with them and against the Russian fascists than with the internet experts who are one step away from quoting Alex Jones.

.I don't see that happening without Russia's help..

Yes, comrade, Uncle Ivan and his Kalashnikov are always happy to help the hapless proletariate! They'll even help them with their ballots by making sure their decision is pre-filled in!

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