Saturday, November 28, 2015
(Updated throughout the day)
 |
| Alexander Zakharchenko |
Alexander Zakharchenko on Place and Role of Media in the DPR /
Zakharchenko official website
(in Russian) / Edited autotranslation by Quemado Institute / At a press
conference held on November 27, Head of the People's Republic of
Donetsk Alexander Zakharchenko answered journalists' questions on the
role of media in the lives of the young state.
Question: What is your attitude toward the media?
Zakharchenko:
Any journalist is obliged, in connection with the specifics of their
profession, to communicate to people is not so much an opinion as
objective information.
Question: How important is the work of news agencies and the media in general?
Zakharchenko:
... I believe that you carry the power that shapes public opinion and
even public life. Therefore, you have a special mandate. You have a very
important profession.
Question: On the territory of the
Republic, several news agencies, TV channels and other media have
formed. How they can work freely? Is there any censorship?
Zakharchenko:
About censorship, we know there is almost none. Nobody is forbidden to
express their opinion. It is the right of every citizen and person. But
if the opinion which you express is radically different from the views
of the majority, it probably means that you are not right, and that you
have disagreement with the company [tr?]. And about the ban on
expressing views, please say what you want. You probably want to ask how
important it is to develop freedom of speech? Freedom of speech is one
of the pillars of statehood. But you must understand that freedom is not
permissiveness. The freedom of one person should not work to the
detriment of the freedom of another person or the public.
Quemado Institute comments:
We are glad to see Zakharchenko directly address the issue of freedom
of the press. Over the past year it has become clear to us that there is
strict media censorship in the DPR. We have not heard this from
specific sources, but have come to this conclusion based on the
restrained content of news reports emanating from the DPR, and the
dearth of broad commercial news agencies that deal openly with world
events and politics. We have challenged the DPR on this in several
commentaries. It is of course necessary in this critical time of
vulnerability, when the DPR is fighting a massive information war
against the whole Western world and even Russian news sources such as
TASS, that anti-Donbass propaganda not be published in the DPR, and we
support their expulsion of pro-Ukrainian journalists. The downside is,
censorship of even the most moderate kind creates writer's block among
journalists, thwarting their creativity and stifling the content of
their articles. This constraint is evident all through the Donetsk-based
news. And it limits the expression of the favorable along with the
unfavorable. Thus, supportive Western journalists such as ourselves have
difficulty knowing what is really going on in the DPR. We rely on
Twitter for direct information. Furthermore, it is especially tragic
that pro-Novorossiya journalists such as Valentina Kornienko have been
abducted by DPR authorities and held in secret detention. Journalists
advocating an independent Novorossiya should be allowed the freedom to
express this, and pressure from Moscow to suppress such opinions, in the
name of Minsk and appeasement of the West, should be ignored. Note also
that Zakharchenko is essentially advocating what is called a "tyranny
of the majority", ie. those who disagree with the majority should be
censored. Yet, contrary to his statement,
permissiveness is exactly what freedom is,
as long as it falls within the bounds of law. The laws must be
delicately balanced to allow maximum freedom while sustaining order and
security. Some liberalization of the DPR's free speech laws might
enhance their image worldwide.
 |
| Alexander Zakharchenko |
Head of the DPR on Refugees from Ukrainian Side /
Zakharchenko official website
(in Russian) / Edited autotranslation by Quemado Institute / November
28, 2015 / At a press conference on November 27, Alexander Zakharchenko
answered reporters' questions about a possible increase in the flow of
refugees, since Ukraine is in deep economic crisis.
Question:
The situation in Ukraine is deplorable. They come broke, there are
problems with gas, with coal, and the winter will be cold. If the
refugees come here from Ukrainian side, will you accept them?
Zakharchenko:
We never said that we are at war with the people of Ukraine. We said
that we are at war with the Nazis, and Bandera. We do not view the
people of Ukraine as our opponent. We have always treated them with
respect. And in all the statements that we have made, we called on these
people only come to their senses and throw off the yoke of this power
that came to them illegally. Therefore, we will extend a helping hand,
and will render any assistance to any person, this we will. But I just
want to remind you with a saying: Into a strange monastery with its
regulations do not go. We do not welcome ["perceive" - tr?] people here
who are carriers of the ideology of "Ukrainians", we do not welcome
people who adhere to the ideology of Bandera. And we do not welcome the
people who run away from there to stay here, and then go back and say
that we are bad. We are always glad to see in our area our friends, the
people who need help, especially children, the elderly and women.
 |
| Alexander Zakharchenko |
Zakharchenko Does Not Rule Out Provocations by Kiev for Purpose of Accusing DPR during Elections in Mariupol /
DAN
/ Edited autotranslation by Quemado Institute / November 27, 2015 / The
Kiev authorities may resort to provocations during tomorrow's elections
in Mariupol in order to blame the DPR for their failure. This was
stated by Head of the People's Republic of Donetsk Alexander
Zakharchenko. "We have not provoked anything in Mariupol, but it is
expected that the Ukrainians are preparing provocations in order to then
accuse us of disrupting the elections to take place there. But to
accuse us of provocation in a territory over which we have no control
is, at the least, stupid," said the Head of the DPR. According to him,
the elections have been re-assigned, and can not take place because of
the low turnout. "If voters do not participate in the vote tomorrow, it
is the will of the people who live there," said Zakharchenko. Recall
that the local elections scheduled for October 25 by Kiev, due to lack
of ballots, did not take place in Mariupol, which is the largest city in
the Ukrainian Security Forces occupied territory of Donbass, and
Krasnoarmeisk. The new date for a vote in both towns is 29 November.
 |
| Lenin Square in Donetsk (--DAN) |
In Donetsk, More than 300 Thousand Inhabitants who Left the City Because of Ukrainian Attacks have Returned /
DAN
/ Edited autotranslation by Quemado Institute / November 28, 2015 /
More than 300 thousand residents of the capital have returned to Donetsk
since the end of summer 2014. This was announced today to DAN by the
mayor Igor Martynov. "The peak of the conflict was about August 3, 2014,
while in Donetsk there were about 500-520 thousand people. Now the
population of Donetsk is 850 thousand, that is, more than 300 thousand
have returned," said the mayor. He added that the mass return of people
who fled the DPR capital indicates significantly revived traffic. "You
can see for yourself that there are traffic jams," the source said.
Prior to the military conflict in the Donets Basin, according to 2013
[census], the population of Donetsk exceeded 950,000 people. "Of course,
there are a hundred thousand who have left and cannot afford to live
anywhere else, and not in their home country," said the mayor of the
capital. The exodus of Donetsk in August 2014 occurred in connection
with the massive bombardment of the city, which was [carried out by]
Ukrainian security officials involved in the punitive operations of
Kiev. In the area on the outskirts, there was shelling residential
neighborhoods, which are still being shelled from the Ukrainian
positions, as well as in the center.
 |
| Poroshenko (--Russia Insider/Reuters/Mykola Lazarenko) |
Washington's Approval of Arms Shipments ot Ukraine not News for DPR - Zakharchenko /
DAN
/ Edited autotranslation by Quemado Institute / November 28, 2015 /
Washington's decision to officially give weapons to the Ukrainian regime
did not surprise the administration of the DPR, Head of the People's
Republic of Donetsk Alexander Zakharchenko said today. "Last year
(Defense Minister Vladimir) Kononov showed reporters the weapons we
captured at the Donetsk airport. Among the spoils of war were American
machine guns and rifles. In other words, the US had already supplied
weapons to Ukraine. Just now, America has officially announced it. We
are not surprised by such statements," said the head of the DPR. Recall
that on November 26, US President Barack Obama signed the Congress
approved US defense budget for 2016, which provides military assistance
to Ukraine in the amount of $300 million.
 |
| Vladimir Putin (--from Fort Russ) |
Putin signs a decree on special economic measures against Turkey / Translated by Ollie Richardson for Fort Russ /
Fort Russ
/ November 28, 2015 / The President of Russia Vladimir Putin has signed
a decree on measures to ensure the national security of the Russian
Federation and on application of special economic measures in relation
to Turkey, said the press service of the Kremlin. The President of
Russia Vladimir Putin has signed a Decree "On measures for safeguarding
national security of the Russian Federation and protecting Russian
citizens from criminal and other unlawful acts and on application of
special economic measures against the Turkish Republic," stated the
message.
 |
| Russian DM Sergei Shoigu (--Sputnik/Sergei Guneev) |
Russian MoD presents the facts regarding Turkey's act of aggression /
Fort Russ
/ November 28, 2015 / In the course of appearance of different versions
concerning circumstances of the attack on the Russian Su-24M aircraft
carried out by the Turkish F-16 fighter in the sky over Syria on
November 24, the Russian Defence Ministry presents facts of this
situation unprecedented in its disloyalty. The accident happened on
November 24. Combat loss of the Su-24M, tail number 83, was caused by
fire engagement. At 9.15 (MSK) it was assigned to carry out strike near
Kepir-Motlu-Zahiya located in the north of Syria. This task was assigned
to two Su-24M aircraft crews, including one of pilot Lieutenant Colonel
Oleg Peshkov and Captain Konstantin Murakhtin (aircraft number 83, with
combat payload four OFAB-250-270 air bombs). The crews were assigned to
conduct combat air patrol near Maarrat al-Numan at flight levels of
5800 m and 5650 m correspondently. The aircraft took off from the
Hmeymim airbase at 9:42. At 9:52, the Su-24M entered detection zone of
the Turkish Air Force radar means and was under their coverage in the
course of 34 minutes. After 20 minutes passed since the crew had entered
its area of responsibility, the Command centre of the Hmeymim airbase
ordered it to eliminate militants in the area. The crews bombed two
assigned targets and turned to the left to make another approach for
destruction of two remaining targets. As it was carrying out an
airstrike at the target located 5.5 km to the south of the Turkish
border, at 10:24 the crew led by Lieutenant Colonel Peshkov O.A.
launched bombs at the target and was then downed by an "air-to-air" . . .
MORE>>
Click here.
 |
| Mowaffak al-Rubaie (--thesaker.is) |
Iraqi Politician Claims Turkey Lets ISIL Sell Oil for Meager $20 a Barrel /
Sputnik
/ November 28, 2015 / Turkey allows the Islamic State terrorist group
to sell Iraqi and Syrian oil for just $20 a barrel, Iraq's former
National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie wrote on Saturday. In a
statement posted on his Facebook page al-Rubaie, who is also a leader of
the Law-Governed State parliamentary coalition, outlined Ankara’s
four-pronged support for the Islamic militants, with the illegal oil
trade topping the list. “First and foremost, the Turks help the
militants sell stolen Iraqi and Syrian oil for $20 a barrel, which is
half the market price,” Mowaffak al-Rubaie wrote. Turkey in general, and
Istanbul in particular, is also a place where ISIL commanders recruit
local migrants and take them to Mosul in Iraq or Raqqa in Syria, he
noted. “Each month hundreds of radicals cross the Turkish border, while
the local law enforcers pretend they just don’t see,” Mowaffak al-Rubaie
wrote, adding that many wounded ISIL fighters were apparently
undergoing treatment in Turkish hospitals. During a joint news
conference with French President Francois Hollande in Moscow earlier
this week, President Vladimir Putin mentioned the massive supplies of
Syrian oil being sent to Turkey by the Islamic State terrorist group.
No comments:
Post a Comment