“Are we sure that the citizens of Russia want to?”

On the eve of February 16, the day of Russia's alleged «invasion» into Ukraine by Western media, State Duma deputies voted for ideas to appeal to President Vladimir Putin with a request to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. The initiative, originally proposed by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, was quickly seized by United Russia, who proposed their own, different from the communists, draft resolution. «Novaya» in the format of a micro-play tells how the plenary session on the recognition of the so-called «LPR» was held.

Plenary meeting of the State Duma on February 15, during voting on the recognition of the self-proclaimed «LDNR». Photo: State Duma press service

there is a sequel

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The deputies devoted about an hour and a half to the problem of recognizing the independence of the «LPR» and «DPR». The main issue on the agenda was to apply with a corresponding request to Putin directly (the idea of ​​the Communist Party of the Russian Federation) or first consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (the idea of ​​»United Russia») .

The communists insisted that the Russian leader already perfectly understands what is happening in the international arena, and extra agreements will simply delay the adoption of a “historic” decision for the “suffering residents of Donbass”. United Russia offered to be more circumspect and urged colleagues to play it safe: the recognition of the independence of the republics violates Russia's international obligations and the Minsk agreements. As a result, the deputies had to choose between two almost identical letters, which sooner or later were supposed to end up on Putin's desk.

A simple and understandable version of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation will be presented to the deputies by a member of the presidium of the party, Kazbek Taysaev.

Taisaev:It's time to stop the bloodshed in the Donbass, which has been going on for the eighth year. The population is tired of the constant bombing, adults and children continue to die in the republics. Every day, the people of Donbass are losing faith that the war will ever end.

The West was to blame for everything.

Taisaev: Washington puppeteers of the Kiev leadership and Bandera formations are persistently trying to unleash a war in the Donbass and solve their geopolitical tasks!

The communist convinces parliamentarians for a long time that Russia is obliged to take matters into its own hands in the Donbass, since the Minsk agreements do not work. In passing, he reproaches the Ukrainian authorities for stopping paying pensions and other social benefits to residents of the self-proclaimed republics. Recognition of their independence will help the «fraternal people», concludes a member of the Communist Party.

Taysaev: Once a modest girl came up to me and asked with trepidation: “Do you remember me?” When I looked, I remembered. Several years ago I saw this girl and knew her parents. They had the right to independence, they fought for their homeland, for freedom, for the future of every child, for a peaceful sky above their heads. It turned out that the girl's mom and dad died tragically on the front line and she was left an orphan.

After Taysaev, United Russia deputy Artem Turov comes to the podium. He says that Ukraine «fell under external control.» The deputies demonstrated unanimity on the main issue — the recognition of the independence of the «DNR» and «LNR», however, in terms of form, it is still more expedient to first consult with the Foreign Ministry, says United Russia.

Turov:We know that Russia is doing everything possible from a diplomatic point of view to implement the Minsk agreements so that there is peace in Donbas. I repeat, Kiev is doing the opposite. <…> It is necessary to consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the status of international treaties, as well as on the existence of obligations that our country has.

Deputies are allowed to ask questions.

—What will happen to the welfare of ordinary citizens if, after the recognition of independence, the West imposes serious sanctions? Anton Tkachev from the New People faction asked timidly.

Tkachev: Are we sure that the citizens of Russia want to? Even if the media wrote that they were ready to give up a third of the salary and part of the volume of their refrigerator, but still, in relation to the financial sector and other industries, this will not be very good …

Taisaev: