Business New Europe: Borders of Donbas “special status” territory in dispute

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – September 9, 2014) The borders of the territory in Donbas receiving a “special status” under the terms of a ceasefire between Russian-backed rebels and Kyiv are under dispute, according to conflicting statements made by Yury Lutsenko, advisor to Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, and self-proclaimed first deputy prime minister of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” Andriy Purhin.

According to comments made by Lutsenko on a TV talk show September 7, only around one third of the entire Donbas territory (comprising Donetsk and Luhansk regions) will receive special status while remaining a part of Ukraine, Lutsenko said.

“The protocol has definitively stated that this is not about a special status of two regions. It has clearly specified only those districts of the two regions which are beyond control of the Ukrainian authorities,” Lutsenko said on ICTV, as quoted by Interfax. The districts in question comprise about a third of the total area of Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are not under control of Ukrainian armed forces, Lutsenko said, adding that the exact borders are currently being demarcated. Lutsenko also claimed that Ukraine would control the border.

Self-styled first deputy prime minister of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” Andriy Purhin in response told Interfax that the “Donetsk People’s Republic” and the “Luhansk People’s Republic” back self-determination of the territories within the administrative boundaries of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

“We stand rigidly on the position of self-determination within the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions,” Purhin said, as quoted by Interfax. “Of course, it will be necessary to reach some compromises with Kyiv. In particular, regarding economic, cultural and other issues,” Purhin said, according to Interfax.