[QUOTE]Associated Press= DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — More than 5,000 pro-Russia residents of a major city in Ukraine's east demonstrated on Saturday in favor of holding a referendum on whether to seek to split off and become part of Russia.
The rally in Donetsk came less than a week after the Ukrainian region of Crimea approved secession in a referendum regarded as illegitimate by the Western countries. After the referendum, Russia moved to formally annex Crimea.
With Crimea now effectively under the control of Russian forces, which ring Ukrainian military bases on the strategic Black Sea peninsula, concern is rising that Ukraine's eastern regions will agitate for a similar move.
Russia has brought large military contingents to areas near the border with eastern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there is no intention to move into eastern Ukraine, but the prospect of violence between pro- and anti-secession groups in the east could be used as a pretext for sending in troops.
Eastern Ukraine is the heartland of Ukraine's economically vital heavy industry and mining and the support base for Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian president who fled to Russia last month after being ousted in the wake of three months of protests in the capital, Kiev.
Russia and Yanukovych supporters contend Yanukovych's ouster was a coup and allege that the authorities who then came to power are nationalists who would oppress the east's large ethnic Russian population.
"They're trying to tear us away from Russia," said demonstrator Igor Shapoval, a 59-year-old businessman. "But Donbass is ready to fight against this band which already lost Crimea and is losing in the east."
Donbass is the name for the region of factories and mines that includes Donetsk.
About an hour after the Donetsk rally began, the crowd marched through the city center and assembled before the regional administration building chanting: "Crimea! Donbass! Russia!"
Demonstrators waving Russian flags were faced off by lines of shield-wielding riot police. Inside, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was meeting with local officials.
[/QUOTE]
[URL]http://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/11258282[/URL] <- More at the source.
Shit, guys. Looks like it's spreading.
This is literally Ukraine's zombie apocalypse. Luckily it's just 5000 people
This'll just give Russia more reason to invade
Russia doesn't give a shit about ethnic Russians, they just want military and economic assets
[QUOTE=Saxon;44326011]Russia doesn't give a shit about ethnic Russians, they just want military and economic assets[/QUOTE]
Putin wants the power the USSR had
Can't wait for the usual shills to get here and suck Russia's dick some more.
Why are people rating this positively? They're protesting [I]for[/I] secession from Ukraine, not [I]against[/I] secession.
[QUOTE]More than 5,000 pro-Russia residents of a major city in Ukraine's east demonstrated on Saturday in favor of holding a referendum on whether to seek to split off and become part of Russia.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Cheshire_cat;44326136]Why are people rating this positively? They're protesting [I]for[/I] secession from Ukraine, not [I]against[/I] secession.[/QUOTE]
Who are we to tell them they can't protest? If they want to be part of Russia, then let them fight for what they want. Since when was this a bad thing?
[QUOTE=DesolateGrun;44326119]Putin wants the power the USSR had[/QUOTE]
I remember when Hilary called him out on that in the U.N and everyone laughed her off a few years ago.
Its kinda becoming a scary reality now
[QUOTE=urbanmonkey;44326243]Who are we to tell them they can't protest? If they want to be part of Russia, then let them fight for what they want. Since when was this a bad thing?[/QUOTE]
Protests don't necessarily represent a majority of the population. Also you can't just go and take land because a "majority" wants it. Russia doesn't care about people they just want more of Ukraine. I don't get how being imperialistic is worthy of a winner rating.
[QUOTE=Cheshire_cat;44326136]Why are people rating this positively? They're protesting [I]for[/I] secession from Ukraine, not [I]against[/I] secession.[/QUOTE]
So are protesters for secession of a lesser human value than those against secession? If they want to protest let them protest.
[QUOTE=laserguided;44326306]So are protesters for secession of a lesser human value than those against secession? If they want to protest let them protest.[/QUOTE]
That's what we are not saying. And it matters what they are protesting for, not the fact that they are protesting.
[QUOTE=matt000024;44326551]That's what we are not saying. And it matters what they are protesting for, not the fact that they are protesting.[/QUOTE]
Why shouldn't I rate these protestors winner? They're in the international news because of what they came together and did. More than I've ever done.
As long as Russia has a foot in the door in Ukraine, these protests are just going to spark more conflict. When they are done holding land hostage, then they can have referendums all they want.
The past Ukrainian government wasn't exactly much better than the Russian government in terms of corruption either.
[img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64514745/rusUkr.png[/img]
I'd rather be under a growing corrupt government than a stagnating one. (Although the EU deals may change these)
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