We have reason to believe that the self-appointed leaders of
the self-proclaimed Peoples Republic of Donetsk (PRD) understood quite well the
message of the May 11 referendum. Less than 12 hours after the polls closed,
the PRD military commander, Colonel Strelkov alias Strelok (real name Girkin), purportedly
issued alarmed instructions to a restive, unsupportive east Ukraine, beset by lawlessness and
chaos, from which the Russian “volunteers” might have to flee.
The purported order came into the hands of MediaUkraine. A
copy is attached. We do not know if it is authentic, but the words and message
are consistent with past pronouncements by Strelkov.
The order purported from Strelkov (as translated by me
despite its rather bad grammar and twisted syntax) reads as follows:
Military Order to the Self Defense Forces of the Donetsk Peoples
Republic, Slavyansk 07:00 12.5.2014
The events from 09.05 to 11.05.2014 and the results of the
referendum conducted on the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts reflect only the
partial achievement of established goals. The work is made more complex by a
series of issues, based on the fact of cases of uncontrolled marauding in Donetsk and Lugansk
oblasts, the unauthorized use of firearms, military supplies, and materials,
the low level of support for actions for the self defense of the local
population.
Based on the above, I ORDER:
1. The distribution of weapons, military equipment, financial
resources, narcotics, and alcohol [my itals] will be handled exclusively by
the forces of self defense (without the participation even of loyal local
activists).
2. Actions aimed at the destabilization of the situation
must be clearly coordinated with the staff.
Eliminate acts of uncontrolled looting and marauding.
3. Actions of intimidation (torture, demonstrative
punishment of Ukrainian activists including those armed) can be carried out only
with the agreement of representatives of Russian mass media [my itals]
4. Increase the intensity of
actions to discredit Ukrainian authority and attribute responsibility
for the terrorization of the population of
Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts by ultranationalist pro-Ukrainian
organizations “Right Sector" and ”Svoboda” to the Ukrainian government.
5. Prepare and present before 09:00 15.05.14 to the staff plans
for the departure of forces for the Russian Ukrainian border [my itals].
The departure will be prepared and guaranteed by the special services of the Russian Federation.
Signed by the Coordinator of forces of self defense of the Donetsk Peoples Republic.
I.I. Strelkov (Strelok)
If authentic, Strelkov’s May 12 order points to a collapse
of law and order in the Slavyansk region, low levels of public support for the
self-proclaimed separatist leadership, an unwillingness to join self-defense
forces, and an admission that locals are being supplied alcohol and narcotics
to encourage anti-Ukraine activism. Indeed, Ukrainian forces have reported
drunken oppositionists, and mobs of demonstrators appear either drunk or high.
Point 3 of Strelkov’s order is either garbled or an instance
of unexpected candor. It orders that torture or demonstrative (pokazatel’ny)
punishment of pro-Ukrainians, armed or otherwise, must be cleared with the
Russian (Rossiisky) mass media (SMI). Point 3, therefore suggests
coordination between the pro-Russian leadership and Russia’s media to insure either
proper staging of news, to prevent unwanted images of Russian abuses from being
captured by the wrong cameras, and to lay responsibility for acts of terror at
the feet of pro-Ukrainian extremists.
The Strelkov document is consistent with the growing
consensus that Putin is abandoning his campaign to take over significant parts
of east Ukraine.
The game appears to be over. I would not be surprised if
Putin uses Strelkov and his unsavory gang as scapegoats, claiming they were out
of his control all the time.
