The problem of Ukraine's federalization is no longer relevant in the Donetsk region, Serhiy Taruta, the head of the Donetsk regional administration, said on May 6. "The theme of federalization is no longer relevant here. We are holding an awareness-raising campaign to explain to the people that the community would not benefit from federalization in any way and that this would only increase the number of bureaucrats and the burden on the local budget," Taruta said at a conference in Kyiv on May 6.
The people’s attitude toward granting Russian second official language status has also been changing, Taruta said. “When you start explaining to the people that, if there is another official language, all documents and paperwork will have to be executed in two languages, the desire to have two official languages also weakens,” he said.
Taruta thanked the central authorities who, in his words, have taken heed to the Donetsk region’s proposals in drawing up amendments to the Ukrainian constitution regarding the local self-government system.
Volodymyr Hroisman, a deputy prime minister and regional development, construction and utilities minister, said at the conference that the issue of Ukraine’s federalization is absurd, as it can only lead to the country’s split, will not provide any benefits to local communities, and cannot substitute for a local self-government system reform.
