Manifesto of the Donbass International Movement

Manifesto of the Donbass International Movement [undated]. Translated by James von Geldern.

 

The founding conference was held of the Donbass International Movement was November 18, 1990 in Donetsk. On December 12 it was registered by the Donetsk regional executive committee. Its manifesto shows showed signs of a conflict in Ukraine that continues to flare up twenty five years into the future.

Original Source: Manifest internatsional’nogo dvizheniia Donbassa [b.d]

Eight decades ago our homeland was the scene of various revolutions, experiments and reforms.

For eight decades we have rushed from one extreme to another. For eight decades since January 9, 1905, civil war has continued, now fading, now flaring up again in various parts of our state.

Launched in 1985, perestroika has created the preconditions for a peaceful transition of the country into the mainstream of the world civilization. The liberalization of the political and intellectual life of society, the awakening of people to active political life, the significant expansion of the boundaries of transparency, have increased the authority of the USSR in the international arena – all this, of course, can be credited to perestroika.

However, the favorable conditions have not been fully put to use by the central organs of state and party leadership.

In the conditions of an acute political and ideological crisis gripping society, forces that rely on the so-called “national idea” in battle for power have begun to play a significant role. Its essence is the exaltation of the nation, the nation-state. At the same time the right of a separate sovereign personality is completely suppressed by the national idea. The danger of nationalism is in preaching national exclusiveness, inciting inter-ethnic conflicts.

The concern is that national movements are usually headed by a leader of the authoritarian type, to whom the ideals and principles of democracy are nothing more than camouflage. They are characterized by intolerance of dissent, a willingness to poison and destroy dissent, an aspiration to use political power as a source of personal enrichment. Such anti-democratism is characteristic of the leaders of a number of other movements.

The victory of these figures leads to the establishment of the totalitarian state, which will be a mirror image of our recent past, which we are trying to leave with such efforts. Taking into account all of the above; understanding, that the old political structures have appeared unable to withstand the new wave of extremism and nationalism; aware of its responsibility the future of our homeland, we create the DONBASS INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT.

International- because we do not oppose the interests of nations to individual citizens, and citizens do not oppose each another on a national basis, uniting representatives of different peoples in our ranks.

Movement – because we do not claim the role of a political party with a detailed program for all spheres of public life, and we intend to unite different people, members of other organizations and non-party members – everyone concerned about the growing influence of fascist, nationalist theories; who cherish the idea of building a new society; whose motto is freedom, stability, justice, development.

FREEDOM. We are in favor of giving priority to the rights, freedoms, and interests of the individual over the interests of nations, classes, parties, social and political groups; for the comprehensive development of the creative initiative of the free person; freedom of expression, true freedom of conscience and other rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

STABILITY. We affirm that the free and dignified status of the person is possible only in a stable, predictable society based on respect for the law. Hasty and ill-conceived projects must be opposed by a balanced policy, adopted by a democratically elected parliament. In the transition to a qualitatively new state of society it would be unwise to “shake to their foundation” political and economic structures that have proven their viability. Political, economic and social stability – that’s the basis for our society.

JUSTICE. We stand for the equality of all citizens irrespective of their nationality, religion, social origin, political beliefs; the equality of all nations and languages; equality of political parties, movements, organizations; equality of all forms of ownership.

DEVELOPMENT. Our goal is not to return our society to a stage it has already lived through, or the blind copying of some prepared models. We defend the principle of the sustainable development of our society on the basis of universal laws, taking into account its inherent political, social and national peculiarities.

All those who care about the fate of our land are welcome into the ranks of the international movement.

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