SIMFEROPOL – Speaker of the Russian Parliament of Crimea Volodymyr Konstantinov headed the commission on “integration of new territories” (this is what Russia calls the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories – ed.) at the Federal Assembly of Russia. According to Konstantinov, “Crimea interacts with new Russian regions regarding their integration into the Russian legal space.” Krym.Realii decided to find out the opinion of Crimean activists, why the Kremlin instructed Konstantinov to lead this work.
On the air of a Russian TV channel “Millet” Crimean speaker Volodymyr Konstantinov stated that the commission headed by him will rely on the Crimean experience in its work.
We understand that while hostilities are going on, the relevance of this work is not so obvious
“The most important tool created today is the commission I chair. At the last meeting in Moscow, it was renamed from the commission of the Council of Legislators at the Federal Assembly to the commission for the integration of new territories. We will initiate those draft laws there that will relate to their law-making activities. As part of direct contacts with them, we have already organized interaction. We understand that while hostilities are going on, the relevance of this work is not so obvious… Our experience is unique, and it is not only the adoption of laws, but also the tools for responding to the situation. Few people know what the strength of our team was in 2014, we worked around the clock, but the most important thing is that we had the authority to do it, we did it without agreeing with anyone,” – said Konstantinov.
Formerly a member of the State Duma from Crimea Mykhailo Sheremet stated that “the new regions will need a shorter period of time for integration, since there is already the “Crimean experience”, which allows to solve various tasks more effectively.”
The press secretary of the President of Russia reported that this process is in full swing Dmytro Peskov. “The process of integration of these republics in legal, legal, economic, social [поле], the security space of the Russian Federation is in full swing. And, of course, the most important thing for us is to ensure the safety of the republics as soon as possible,” – Peskov noted.
At the same time, not everyone in Crimea sees the prospects voiced by Russian officials in such a rosy light. According to the Crimean Tatar activist Edema Dudakov the work of this commission should not be taken seriously.
“Why was Konstantinov entrusted with this work? The answer suggests itself, because this commission is a fiction. And Konstantinov is the most suitable for such a role. Moscow puppeteers have their own role for all such characters,” he commented on the situation Crimea. Realii activist.
Crimean activist Dmytro Demchuk expressed the opinion that the Crimean speaker is an ideal candidate for the Kremlin to lead such work.
“I wasn’t even surprised that Kontantynov was appointed head of the commission for the “joined territories”. Tested, corresponds to all Kremlin methods. He is the only official Ukrainian leader of the highest rank who “handed over” Crimea to the Russian Federation, holding the position of Speaker of the Crimean Parliament at the time. All these nine years of occupation, Konstantinov properly fulfilled all the wishes of the Kremlin, for which he received its trust and loyalty”, – shared his opinion with Crimea. Realii activist.
Crimean public figure Rahim Gumbatov expressed the opinion that the appointment of Volodymyr Konstantinov to this position can be a double-edged sword.
As for the candidacy of the Crimean speaker for the role of “integrator of new lands”, objectively he has experience in this
“As practice shows, the integration of foreign territories is not an easy task. At a minimum, the people of the integrated territories have the experience of living in a different legislative field, under different socio-political relations. As an example, I can cite the words of a familiar bank branch manager, who told me at the end of the 14th year, that the banking sphere of Ukraine and the Russian Federation is “heaven and earth, the Russian banking sphere is the last century.” As for the Crimean speaker’s candidacy for the role of “integrator of new lands”, objectively he has experience in this – there is no other person with such experience. On the other hand, it is possible that under a certain coincidence of circumstances Konastntynov can be blamed for the failures and get rid of him. This option cannot be ruled out either,” he said Crimea. Realii social activist.
Crimean activist Oleksiy Efremov in the comment Crimea. Realii suggested that this position would bring Volodymyr Konstntynov not only bonuses, but also danger.
I doubt that this is a preference, and not an aggravated punishment
“There is such an apt saying, “a caliph for an hour” – this is the head of this commission. It is clear that no self-respecting top Russian official will undertake to deal with territories that literally float back “to the nanny” like sand through fingers. And such actors have nothing to lose, this position will not have any reputational or sanctioning consequences. What is dead cannot die. I doubt that this is a preference, and not an aggravated punishment. After all, the honorable commission will have to go to the occupied lands. And what if someone pours out the coordinates of the ZSU and covers them all with a console from the building of some vocational school? Why are there extra witnesses in The Hague and Nuremberg, agree,” the activist stressed.
On October 5, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed the laws on “incorporation into Russia” of four partially occupied regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Earlier, he signed a decree recognizing the “independence” of these regions based on the so-called referendums held there under Moscow’s control.
Ukraine and the West have condemned such illegal actions by the Kremlin. Kyiv, Washington, as well as Great Britain and Canada announced new sanctions against the Russian Federation. Ukraine declares that it will fight for the return of the occupied territories under its control by armed means.
