In Ukraine, there is a resolution on the self-determination of peoples, there is a resolution on the recognition of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as an occupied territory, there are several resolutions on the genocide of the Circassians, on other nationalities, but a systematic policy must be developed. Yaroslav Yurchyshyn from “Holos” told “Glavkom” about this to the head of the Temporary Special Commission on the preparation of state policy of Ukraine regarding interaction with the national movements of small and indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation.
Now it is time to create a field for the executive authorities, how exactly to interact with the enslaved nations of Russia, and to explain to the Western world that it is not necessary to run on a rake and fear the disintegration of Russia, as it once feared the collapse of the Soviet Union. “The then President of the USA, George Bush, came and convinced Ukrainians not to declare state sovereignty,” said the People’s Deputy.
Russian propaganda itself promotes the myth that if there is no centralized Russia and President Vladimir Putin, chaos will begin on their territory. In fact, if we analyze on a scientific level the works of Janusz Bugajski (an American political scientist and TV presenter) and other analysts, then for the West, the well-thought-out decentralization of Russia is a more effective mechanism for curbing totalitarian attitudes even in the world.
“In order to manage the empire of peoples, which was the Soviet Union, it is quite logical to understand how to interact with those who are most interested in the democratization of Russia. And this, unfortunately, is not the official opposition in the form of Navalny-Kasparov, which is more in favor of keeping Russia within its existing borders. The problem is that within the existing borders it cannot exist in any other way than the empire and will always be a threat to the democratic world,” said Yurchyshyn.
It is important to show that these centrifugal processes are inevitable, especially when there are completely different interests in Komi, in the Caucasus, and in Tatarstan. So now it is necessary to understand how and with whom to conduct a dialogue, so that this process is managed, democratic and strengthens the Western world, and these territories do not become a peripheral zone.
The commission plans to develop a draft policy concept that defines what enslaved peoples are, how Ukraine interacts with them, and what the goals of this interaction are. “A certain institutional framework will be proposed under this concept. What should the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do? What is the National Security and Defense Council? What are our intelligence agencies? How can other players be involved?” – shared the people’s deputy.
The very concept should be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers as the executive body of the government, entrusting certain powers to ministries and agencies. Next, it is necessary to determine what laws and by-laws, resolutions, appeals and interaction at the level of parliamentary and general diplomacy are needed for the implementation of this plan.
“Having adopted the resolution on the right of peoples to self-determination, we thereby already undertook to help them in this self-determination. Of course, we will not and have no right to impose our vision of sovereignty on other peoples. But we have to receive a request from them in an active dialogue, what kind of support they need, and help in the process of self-determination. We need to understand how the people themselves see this process, how it coincides with our interests and how we are ready to move together in this direction. We do not have the luxury of waiting for these centrifugal processes to go away by themselves, we must have a proactive position,” Yurchyshyn stressed.
They plan to interact with representatives of indigenous peoples, who, depending on their capabilities, can be included in the work. If, for example, we analyze the Kalmyk movement, then a very active part that fights for its ethnic rights has remained in Kalmykia, and it is very difficult for the FSB to deal with it.
The Republic of Tatarstan still has the right to self-determination in its laws and has not yet signed the Federal Treaty. The movement for the protection of the Tatar language includes half a million Tatars out of 6 million. But they achieved that all officials who come from Moscow to work in Tatarstan must learn the Tatar language.
Centrifugal movements are currently very active in Ingria – the territory of the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg, populated mainly by ethnic Russians who feel second-rate compared to Moscow. Although in fact they have their own cultural features, and in connection with the geographical position, more active communications with the West, especially with the Baltic or Finno-Ugric states.
“And the active part, which did not exist before, should be singled out separately – these are those who left Russia and became fighters of various battalions and units of the Armed Forces. Proportionally, this is a small number, but they are natural representatives of these ethnic groups. Here we can talk about the Chechen battalions and the “Freedom of Russia” corps, where representatives of various ethnic groups from the territory of the Russian Federation serve,” said the People’s Deputy.
To summarize, we are talking about three groups of these peoples with whom Ukrainians are in contact: those who remained on the territory of the Russian Federation, the diaspora, and military personnel who joined the armed struggle against Russia in the ranks of the Armed Forces. Communication with them is different, and each ethnic community or regional group requires a separate approach. The same Tatarstan is ready to take as much sovereignty as it can pull, just like Ichkeria. Some, like the small nations of Siberia, of which there are very few left, need protection.
“According to the legislation, we have half a year to work out the relevant bill. If necessary, if the Verkhovna Rada sees the prospect of our further activities, the work can continue. As for how long it will take to equip Russia so that it is not a threat to the world, we are not talking about years, but rather about decades. But it is better to prepare so that there are fewer of these decades,” concluded Yurchyshyn.
It should be noted that on Independence Day, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Resolution No. 9617 on the formation of the Temporary Special Commission on the preparation of the state policy of Ukraine regarding cooperation with the national movements of small and indigenous nations of the Russian Federation. If we describe the essence of the future work of this commission briefly: Kyiv is looking for contact with the indigenous nations of Russia, so that Ukraine and the rest of the civilized world will have someone to deal with when the Russian Federation begins to fall apart.
Earlier it was reported that the government adopted the legislation on indigenous nations and national communities – the parliament presented a strategy of priority steps after the deoccupation of Crimea .
Anastasia Feshchenko
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