Memorandum of Donetsk People's Republic on state-building, political and historical continuity

We, the members of the People’s Soviet of the Donetsk People's Republic first convocation, elected in the general democratic and free elections of Nov. 2, 2014, taking into account the principles of international law embodied in the United Nations Charter, proclaim a memorandum on fundamentals of state-building, political and historical continuity.

Based on the will of the people of Donbass, expressed in the referendum of May 11, 2014, in the Act on the Proclamation of Independence from Ukraine of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic on April 7, 2014, and recognizing the need for the progressive development of law-making and the process of nation-building, we affirm the historic bond between the state entities of the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic.

On February 12, 1918, at the IV Congress of Soviets of the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog basin, the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic (VDCS) was created, based on the idea of ​​economic integration. At the head of the construction of a multi-ethnic national state was Fedor Sergeev (Artem). The structure of the Republic included the territory of Kharkov and Yekaterinoslav provinces, Krivoy Rog (Dnepropetrovsk), Kherson province, part of the Tauride province and industrial areas of the region of the Don Cossacks.

The Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic never officially ceased to exist, despite the German occupation, war and other social upheavals. Its ideas have lived in the hearts and souls of millions of people.

At the end of the 1980s, the “International Movement of Donbass" was created, led by Dmitry Kornilov, which in 1991 raised the black, blue and red flag of the VDCS. In March 1994, the people of Donbass called for a federal structure of the state. Federal ideas were expressed at the Severodonetsk Convention in 2004, where it was decided that referenda should be held in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions on gaining the status of independent republics. Such attempts to rebuild the state were declared criminal by the Kiev authorities. Grassroots protest resulted in the creation of the political movement "Donetsk Republic.” The choice of the people of Donbass was finally confirmed by a referendum in 2014.

We, the deputies of the People’s Soviet of the Donetsk People's Republic, conscious of our responsibility to the past and paving the way for the future:

- Declare the continuation of the traditions of Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic and declare that the State of the Donetsk People's Republic is its successor;

- Call for cooperation and joint efforts to build a federal state on a voluntary, contractual basis of all the territories and lands of the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic.

History of DPR People`s Council

On November 2, 2014, the elections were held to choose the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the People`s Council of the Donetsk People’s Republic of the first convocation. The social movements “Donetsk Republic” and “Free Donbass” took part in the election campaign.

On November 3, 2014, the head of the DPR Central Election Commission Roman Lyagin declared the returns of the elections for the Donetsk People`s Council in percentage terms. The results were as follows: the social movement “Donetsk Republic” – 64,43 %, the social movement “Free Donbass” – 27,75 %. One hundred deputies were elected to the People`s Council of the Donetsk People’s Republic for a term of four years, among them “Donetsk Republic” received 68 seats and “Free Donbass” – 32 seats.

Upon the expiry of 11 days since the election returns were announced, the first plenary session of the People`s Council of the Donetsk People’s Republic of the first convocation was held at the Government House of DPR. The Presidency was composed of the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Zakharchenko, the Head of the Interim Coordinating Committee of DPR People`s Council Denis Pushilin, the head of the DPR Central Election Commission Roman Lyagin, the deputies Andrey Purgin and Alexander Malkov. The aim of the memorable event consisted in formation and inauguration of the legitimate Parliament of the Donetsk People`s Republic.

The Chairman of the DPR People`s Council was elected during the session on November 14, 2014. This post was taken up by Andrey Purgin, and Denis Pushilin was appointed by a general voting as the Deputy Chairman of the People`s Council of the first convocation. The deputies made a joint statement at the end of the session, in which they appealed to their electorate. On November 28, 2014, at the second plenary session of the People`s Council of the first convocation the deputies swore allegiance to the Donetsk People`s Republic in a solemn atmosphere, particularly they swore “to stand guard over the people”. The words of the oath were adopted unanimously at the session.

The 16 Committees have been formed which work on bills in accordance with their specialization. Every week, according to schedule the Committees of the People`s Council hold working sessions, to which, as required, representatives of the Ministries and Departments of the Donetsk People`s Republic as well as experts in particular spheres are invited. A number of important Laws have been prepared and passed by the DPR People`s Council so far.