You're reading: Akhmetov refutes statement by self-proclaimed governor Pavlo Gubarev

 Businessman Rinat Akhmetov has refuted the statement by the self-proclaimed "governor" of Donbas Pavlo Gubarev regarding Akhmetov's funding of the protest movement in Donetsk region. "Pavlo Gubarev has said that I bought two thirds of the activists. I tell you with confidence that I didn't and won't give a cent to anyone. And the main thing is that I didn't buy anyone, I changed their minds. And if I have already changed minds of two thirds, I will keep doing it further. People came to me with certain arguments and left with others," he said, when answering the question of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on May 12.

 “I’ve told them, let’s unite around these words: happiness of Donbas. So that every citizen of our region will be happy. And what is happiness of the region? It is when we have strong economy, new workplaces, worthy job, worthy salary and worthy life. It is when our memory, history and language are respected. To put it shortly, [it is when] our traditions and ambitions to make life better are respected. And I’m deeply convinced that Donbas can be happy only in a united Ukraine. I am for strong Donbas within a strong Ukraine,” Akhmentov said.

Earlier, the self-proclaimed governor of Donbas Pavlo Gubarev said that two thirds of the militants were funded by oligarch Akhmetov. But all the actions of these militants were aimed at “expressing the people’s wrath.”