Oleksiy Danilov: The functioning of the state in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by Ukraine is fully ensured
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov took part in the discussion “Elections in Donbas and the right to local self-government” within the Civil Network OPORA Forum “Electoral Reform: Assessment Through the Prism of Values, Political Rights, and Quality of Procedures” on Wednesday in Kyiv.
The participants discussed the possibility of holding elections in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by Ukraine, countering threats, as well as the peculiarities of developing an action plan for organizing elections in 18 communities located near the delimitation line.
Opening the discussion, the NSDC Secretary stressed the primary need to clearly outline definitions and comply with legal documents. According to him, the term “Donbas” does not exist in any legal document of our state. “There is no “Donbas”, this is a dangerous narrative imposed on us by the Russian Federation”, - he said. According to Mr. Danilov, despite local elections in 18 communities of Donetsk and Luhansk regions were not held, the functioning of the state in these territories is fully ensured.
“It’s not about the state’s unwillingness to hold elections, it’s about the fact that our country has been at war for seven years, and this is a forced step of the state – to respond to the situation created by Russia through occupying part of Donetsk and Luhansk regions”, - Mr. Danilov noticed emphasizing that citizens are fully provided with all necessary public services in the frontline territories.
According to the NSDC Secretary, the life, health, and safety of its citizens are the most vital things for the state, as defined in the new National Security Strategy of Ukraine. “Human life is the primary process in any action. One should not manipulate that someone has been deprived of the right to choose. This is a frontline territory, that’s it”, - he said.
The NSDC Secretary stressed the need to improve the legislative procedure for elections in communities located in the frontline territories.