Akhmetov can no longer seriously influence the situation in Donbass, - Kiev political scientist
Kyiv, April 19 (Navigator, Evgeniy Andreev) – The informal “owner” of Donbass Rinat Akhmetov, unlike the head of the neighboring Dnepropetrovsk region Igor Kolomoisky, no longer has the opportunity to radically change the situation in the rebellious region.
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Political scientist Vladimir Fesenko stated this in an interview with the Kyiv newspaper “Young Ukraine”.
“Firstly, Kolomoisky clearly defined whose side he is on. In Donbass, some of the local elites openly supported the separatists and Russia, while the other part did not interfere with this. Secondly, take into account the factor of demoralization of law enforcement agencies. They learned a lesson from the events on Maidan: is it worth fighting with demonstrators? After all, it is unknown who will win tomorrow.
Rinat Leonidovich, out of habit, negotiates both in Kyiv and Moscow. Although it cannot be denied that he will really lose a lot. That's why he's worried. That is why the congress of the Party of Regions took place (on Wednesday, April 16, - “Navigator”). His agenda is Rinat’s concern,” the political scientist noted.
In his opinion, the oligarch has little chance of “playing back” everything that happened in Donbass.
“Perhaps the point of no return has already been passed. But if Akhmetov really wants to stay in the region, he must, together with the Ukrainian authorities, restore order in Donbass,” Fesenko added.
In any case, he is convinced, Russia will not be able to annex Donbass, but will play out the scenario of creating a Russian-speaking region of a new Transnistria on the territory of two regions.
“Even if the dramatic Crimean scenario repeats itself, the annexation of Donbass will not happen - Russia will not digest its burden. Rather, we will talk about a new Transnistria - the creation of the Donetsk-Lugansk Republic with a subsequent attempt to annex Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Odessa to it,” predicts Vladimir Fesenko.
Akhmetov can no longer seriously influence the situation in Donbas, says Kyiv political scientist