DONETSK, April 09. /ITAR-TASS/. An address in support of residents in the Russian Republic of Crimea was delivered at a meeting of protesters at eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk regional state administrative building on Wednesday. The main slogans were voiced from a rostrum in front of the regional state administrative building, ITAR-TASS reported from the scene.
“We recognize Crimea’s independence and hope that Crimea will recognize independence of Donetsk people’s republic,” the address says. The resolution also contains a request to Crimean residents to support actions of demonstrators, particularly those related to forming self-defense forces. Those protesting on the square have taken the appeal positively chanting “Crimea-Donbas-Russia”.
Current situation on the square around the administrative building remains calm. Over the past night barricades have been considerably expanded, embracing practically the whole parameter of the administrative building. Walkway pebbles were taken from the pavement recently built in front of the entrance to the regional state administrative compound as well as iron and wooden structures were used as “building materials” along with already traditional car tyres and bribed wire. The portrait of Soviet leader Lenin “stood up” for protection of protesters after most likely it had been taken from an office of the regional power compound. Now the portrait is placed in the street behind the metallic fence reminding people of “revolutionary nature” of current situation.
One of those demonstrators on duty on the barricades told ITAR-TASS that all these barriers would prevent storming of administrative buildings by law enforcement agencies and provocateurs. “We stand up here so there will be neither provocations nor storming. We will not leave this place so easily. In the city of Kharkiv, people left it (the regional state administrative building in the city of Kharkiv) themselves,” an unnamed protester said. He had a weapon of “self-defense” - a wooden stick. It should be noted that active protesters on barricades have such objects at hand for defense. Meanwhile, they were not noticed to have any firearms.
Different opinions were voiced at the rally. Some people are afraid of fascism in the region that they link with possible “Bandera radical elements on the Donetsk soil,” others want to fulfil the main demands, particularly grant sweeping powers to local authorities, hold a referendum on status of Donbas coal basin, release previously detained protesters and grant the Russian language the status of the second state language. Others say they do not recognize the authorities in Kiev.
“We do not want Bandera gunmen to come to us, we do not go to western Ukraine and do not tell them how to live,” a protesting woman said with indignation, adding, “We want to be on our soil and have friendly relations with Russia.”
About one thousand people, most of whom are just by-passers who came here to take pictures at the background of an unusual “barricade” landscape, have met on the square.
Meanwhile, the regional center lives daily life beyond Oktyabrskaya Square. Traffic in the city operates in routine mode, there are no traffic jams in the center of the city despite lunch time, city transport is not overloaded, city buses are frequently not filled with passengers.
Workers of utility services and construction organizations are working near the square. Some of them are repairing the facade of nearby buildings.