Donetsk political scientist Daniil Chikin the figure that perceived ambiguously among adherents of «Russian world» and also among Ukrainian patriotic environment. First considers him «Ukr Nazi», second «vatnik» (a radical pro-Russian uneducated aggressive person), run away to Moscow… About radical Russian and radical Ukrainian separatist, about power, which must be able to hit in a mug and about two variants for Donbass Informator.lg.ua talked with Daniil Chikin, the patriot of Ukraine and Kyiv citizen willy-nilly.

Where am I from? I’m from Ukraine!

• The image of “Donetsk establishment” has been forming not one year in Ukraine. They brought like caddy grabbers, littering criminal money to the right and to the left. Are you also from “Donetsk establishment”?
• Of course I’m from Donetsk (like “Donetsk establishment”) and I haven’t ever left my city more than two weeks.
• How often do you meet with prejudices according to migrants from Donbas in real life?
• I don’t feel alertness to me, because Kyiv people are more loyal to IDPs than dwellers of another cities. Kyiv is far enough from war and everything is more harsh for example in Kharkiv or Dnepropetrovsk which are more close to front. When I was looking for housing to myself here, I answered on a question “Where I’m from?” — “I’m from Ukraine”. There weren’t any questions after this. According to employment, hirer first of all looks for professionalism and readiness to work for result. It’s another case when people with knowledges and skill come to Kyiv, but there is not so a lot suggestions on job market as the number of applicants. IDPs are making the contest on local job market, they have nothing to lose and such people are always successful.

• When you decided to leave Donbass?
• I was stereotyped “vatnik” till 2014. I believed in Global mission of Russia in this world, unity of Slavic people and I considered benefit entering of Ukraine to Customs Union. First “ring” for me was the annexation of Crimea. I hoped that Russia needs Ukraine as neighborhood country, but in fact the seizure of our territory happened. But I had the elementary understanding that we are fraternal peoples and must be on the level of notorious neighborhood.

And then Russian and pro-Russian bandits turned Donbas in the territory of lawlessness. Looting and robberies had begun before fighters of Strelkov in Donetsk, it became understandable that this changes wouldn’t bring anything positive. When Illovaysk happened and then first Minsk agreements were signed, it became clear that situation for long here. And then my acquaintances prevent me that I would be in dangerous in Donetsk and I left, it was December of past year.

• How did you appear in broadcast of “NTV” and get to Moscow?

• I came there to my friends, they invited me and I haven’t been there at all. So, it was very interesting to see. “NTV” found me themselves after well-known web scandal.

Minds couldn’t be put in my head how they pervert direct speech after this situation I began to refuse to all Russian channels.

“Donbas is payment to Akhmetov, Crimea is for Putin”

• And who is the leadership on occupied Donbas?

• Here is the official version that they are occupied administration, but also authority of local titled criminals, insurgents and how it could be strange Ukrainian oligarchs is present here. Some of this cardinals kept their rights and influence on Donetsk and occupied Donbas. They almost rule everything, control the industrial plants, mines and electric stations. Mercenaries can’t opponite to oligarchs directly. There were cases, when disparate groups of terrorists tried to capture offices or production capacities, owned by oligarchs and they were punished for this. There is masters and their faithful servants. I know personally a lot of people who calls themselves “the government of “LPR”, I know who are they, how they appeared and whom the had served before. That’s why I have a big scepsis about their self-dependence.
• Who’s concretely from oligarchs has the influence on Donbass? Akhmetov, who else?
• Maybe, it’s kolesnikov, Jura “Yenakievskiy”, Efremov, which property is inviolable on occupied territories.
• Why such people as Efremov and other accomplices of separatists feel so comfortable in Ukraine?
• I have very debatable theory about this. I begin from Maidan. I suppose that people’s actions and activities were skilfully provoked and fueled by group, which included Levochkin and Firtash with aim to depose Yanukovich. Akhmetov was payed with Donbas for non-interference in the situation on Maidan. Russian Special Services had already taken part in shootings on Institutskaya and Grushevskogo. It’s obvious. Conspirators were in contact with Russian side, which was given Crimea without any shot. In spite of fact that huge group of Ukrainian military was on the peninsula, soldiers had got an order contradicted to «the Charter of guard duty» not to interfere to «green men».
• Who could do such an order in a condition of power collapse?
• There was Minister of Defense, there was Warlord, who didn’t give an order to shoot in invaders. If Russia wanted to get all Ukraine, they would do it on March under the guise of assistance to legitimate Yanukovich at that times. Today’s deplorable situation on Donbas is the result of dealing with Putin and such dealings with devil have a bad ends. Devil takes away everything! In short Putin was presented with Crimea, Akhmetov with Donbas. Ex-”regionals” haven’t been touched, because of the same reason why murders on Maidan and disorders in Odessa hasn’t been investigated yet. All of them are tied. Why Poroshenko doesn’t fire, for example, Avakov, who proved his incompetent and actually passed Donetsk? It’s because backroom agreement of warring parties could become public as a result of impartial investigation. Of course, I don’t have some evidences of fact of such agreements, but it’s obvious facts.
• What do you think about idea to “enclose Donbass with barbed wire” and deprive citizenship migrants from Donbas?
• Separatism can be not only “vatny” (pro-Russian radical), it can “vyshivatny” (pro-Ukrainian radical). Callings to separate one or another territory is a callings to revise borders of a country and it’s a crime. I consider that Ukraine has influent political group which continues conflict and events near Verkhovna Rada also their work. Looking for consistence of participants of protest action, we can judge about consistence of this group. The weakness of Ukraine is profitable for them, the war is also profitable, because they can earn big money on it. They will continue to pit different groups of citizens and dwellers from different regions of the country with each other.
• Do you keep in touch with Donetsk, communicate with compatriots? What is the main changes in the evaluation of those situation happened in their heads? If there is a disappointment in Putin, “DPR” and Russia in general?
• First time of course they had an euphoria after almost bloodless annexation of Crimea. Masses were in power of idea that Donbas will be taken away by the same “peaceful” way from Ukraine. And referendum, made by separatists, was perceived like the element of Crimean play. When hot phase of war began, supporters of separation were shocked. They saw “militants” looting and robbing. Of course, the deputy supporters of separation from Ukraine feel a big disappointment to Russia. Moreover, a lot of them see, who really fires on cities, from where shells fly and how strongly real picture is different from propaganda. A lot of people disappointed in “DPR”, but there always be mass of people who never recognize their mistakes.
• Were projects “DPR” and “LPR” realized? What future waits this pseudo-republics? Will they stay under Russia’s control?
• War will over for sure and Russian won’t have enough funds for occupied regions. For example, Pridnestrovie exists only because Moldova allows it to exist, without closing border and without entering the economic blockade on occupied territories. Abkhazia survives because of agriculture and not a big number of tourists. And occupied Donbas has 3-4 million of people, who live in industrial region, which will contest with Kuzbass for example. They destroyed their coal-mining industry in Russian Donbas (Rostov region). In fact Russia doesn’t need developed infrastructure and problem people. And inhabitants of occupied territories understand this unhappy perspectives.
• The power must be able to «hit in a mug»
• Does disappointment in Russia and “DPR” come to “charming” of Ukraine?
• Ukraine do nothing to people to take our position. Except this, such fact that region was cynically handed to fighters at the beginning of resistance made such attitude to Ukrainian power. People in Donbas always respected authority which can on occasion “hit in a mug” and who beats he is a power. When games in negotiations begin and appears need to talk such position is perceiving like weak. It’s impossible for kind or angry gentleman to come closer to serfes without whip.
• Will you come back to Donetsk?
• I will come back in Donetsk for sure as soon as there will be Ukrainian flag under Regional State Administration. There is everything that dearly for me and Kyiv is not native city for me. I don’t consider myself a migrant, I didn’t removed anywhere, I came to Kyiv as a guest. Any person in Donetsk who says personal opinion get in the view of militants and the occupation administration.
• 
• I’ve never kept silence, so, I say what I think, but, unfortunately, do not always think what I say. In some sense I’m an irritant for the authority of “DPR”. I’m not sure that I will be captured there and shot, but I don’t want to check it. Also, I almost got into cellar, but I was lucky that it didn’t happen.

• What will happen next?
• As a political scientist I see two variants — Chechen and Croatian, in spite of some incorrection of comparing of today events with events of many years ago. Russia won’t finance this problem region, because of their economic problems and sanctions. Russia has its own regions, which don’t get full financing and here is 4 million of people, who are used to good level of life unlike Abkhazian people. Moreover, we have all international community on our side, so nobody from huge political players don’t give an opportunity to Russia to create new enclave. First variant is Chechen. It suggests timing transfer of power to one or two clans, which establish the order by themselves.
• The second variant is similar to that was realized in Croatia against republic “Serbska Kraina”. That times Serbia shut the border and guaranteed non-interference, but Croatia made military operation and suppressed separatists. In our situation, as soon as Russia shut the border and declare its innocence in supporting of separatists, Donbas will be free from insurgents.
• What makes Russia to shut down “defense ministry retail shop” and close the border?
• First of all sanctions or some huge oppositional movement inside the country. Antiwar movement in Russia could appear like reaction on real losses of military and volunteers as it was in USA in time of war in Vietnam. Follow to this society action “party of Peace will appear”. It will try to make Russian leadership to negotiate about Donbas.
• Does Maidan is possible in Russia?
• The same as we had — NO! First and last Maidan happened in Russian in 1993. That times there were the real rebel of people against the acting authority of Eltsin. Yes, revolted stayed on the position of the recovering of USSR, but it was real arise of people. This Maidan was shot from tanks and from that times any of revolutions is impossible in such hierarchical country like Russia.
• Prepared by Nikita Pidgora for Informator.lg.ua