Committee of Voters of Ukraine Donetsk regional organization of All-Ukraine Civil Organization
The project ”Enhancing cooperation of newly elected deputies and civil activists in Donetsk region: ressources, opportunities, reconciliation”
(Results of Expert Survey conducted in Controlled by Ukrainian Government Territory of Donetsk Region)
Kyiv-2016
In June and August 2016 NGO Donetsk Committee of Voters of Ukraine conducted an expert survey of inhabitants of Donetsk region. The goal of the questionnaire was to define public opinion on actual problems in the controlled by Ukrainian Government territories, expectations for authorities and NGOs, attitude to the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. During the survey 74 questionnaires were proceed. Among the respondents there were the representatives of local authorities, deputies of local councils, entrepreneurs, and the representatives of NGOs.
Quality of life
On respondents’ opinion, the life quality of the population has worsened or remained the same for 2 years of the “Anti-Terrorism Operation” (ATO) in the territory of Donbas region; insignificant per cent of the respondents believe the life has improved.
Main evidences of life deterioration
Life deterioration of the population of Donetsk region has concrete evidences in everyday life. On respondents’ opinion, such evidences are purchasing power decline, worsening of employment situation, and low level of access to medical, social, and cultural services. So, we can talk about the general worsening of social and cultural life level of population. -2-
Urgent problems
On respondents’ opinion, first of all, it is necessary to resolve the next problems: renewal of old workplaces and creation of new ones (including establishment of new manufactures), investment raising, creation of favourable conditions for small and mid-size business, recovery of cities infrastructure (repair of roads is one of the main problem), and improving of hausing and communal services. Thus, the priority for population of the region is to meet social and economic needs, cities development and modernisation, as well as creation of comfort conditions for living in every city, town and village of Donetsk region. It is revealing that results of the survey that was conducted in 2015 show the same problems as in 2016, including renewal of old roads, and creation of new workplaces (including establishment of new manufactures), creation of favourable conditions for small and mid-size businesses, recovery of cities infrastructure. So, this fact shows that for the year nothing has changed in solving of the urgent problems, most of them have not been resolved.
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Causes of problems
ATO is conducted for 2 years in Donetsk region, that is, on respondents’ opinion, the main reason of the problems that exist in the region. Undoubtful, conducting of ATO creates other causes of life deterioration, such as the outflow of capital and the able-bodied population, the break of -4-
economic ties with the occupied territories and the loss of traditional markets for goods and services. In general, we can say about negative impact of the Anti-Terrorism Operation on the live level of residents of Donetsk region, especially on the economic capacity and meeting of social guarantees.
Local elections and activities of local authorities
The political aspect of population life is important, since the elected representatives of nation determine the main vectors of city development and operate management of community. The attitude of the inhabitants of Donetsk region to the results of local elections, held in autumn 2015, is uneven, but most respondents said that in cities, where elections were held, “new faces� having come to authority are implementing pro-Ukrainian and patriotic policy, but in some cities, such representatives are in the minority in local councils and have no real opportunity to influence the policies development and promotion. Also, according to respondents, in some cases, under the brands of new parties the same political powers of times of ex-Presidents Kuchma and Yanukovich have come to authority. Despite the ambiguous attitude of cities of Donetsk region to the results of local elections, the majority of respondents believe that the local authorities perform its duties, but there are those, who do not know what the local authorities are dealing with, that demonstrate weak communication of local governments with community. -5-
Military and civil administration
The majority of respondents believe that Donetsk regional military and civil administration (DonRMCA) performs its duties, but there is also a certain negative attitude, that can be caused by two main reasons: by low level of communication and public information, that is why 20%Â of respondents do not know what DonRMCA deals with, and by distrust, because some employees of the administration are not locals.
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The central authorities
Most respondents have a neutral attitude to new appointments in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (appointment of Vladimir Groisman as Prime Minister of Ukraine), in their opinion nothing has changed with such changes in the Government. Also, the significant part of respondents does not support new appointments, and only 20% of respondents welcome the personnel changes in the Cabinet. As for the policy that is implemented by all central authorities, the popular majority of Donetsk region partly supports it in certain issues. AÂ percentage of those who do not support such a policy is significantly higher, than the percentage of those who support it. This may indicate a low level of legitimacy and the decisions which it takes among the population of Donetsk region.
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State and development prospects of territorial communities
According to respondents’ opinion, the state and prospects of development of their local communities, primarily, are dependent on the mayor and the executive committee of the local council, and secondly, on the activity and activeness of citizens, members of the local communities, as well as on public institutions (the Verhovna Rada, President and the Government of Ukraine). Taking into account, that Ukraine is conducting authorities decentralization reforms, thus such a perception of responsible for the development of local communities demonstrates the positive perception and understanding of these reforms by population of Donetsk region.
Reforms
At the present stage of development, Ukraine is conducting a certain number of reforms that have a direct impact on the political and socio-economic aspects of the community of Donetsk region. According to respondents, the real impact was made by fiscal reform and local government reform. Strengthening of the local communities through their merger in general is perceived positively by the population, indicating understanding and support of this reform. -8-
NGOs
One of the main elements of the state is civil society, which, first of all, is represented by numerous civil organizations of different directions. Now NGOs perform socially important functions, including control over the author-9-
ities, social services, etc. Unfortunately, certain individuals perceive NGOs as opposed /competitive to the authorities, not partners. However, according to respondents, citizen participation in governing is an important element of authority decision-making, civil organizations are an effective tool of public control, and members of these organizations are an important asset of the community. So, in general, the population of Donetsk region have positive attitude and confidence in NGOs in various aspects of social and political life of communities.
Corruption
Respondents have skepticism about the fight against corruption, which is conducted in Ukraine. Only a small number said that they know the specific facts of prosecution for corruption of residents of city, however, almost half of the respondents indicate that corruption continues to be strong and anticorruption efforts have not been done. This illustrates the fact that the residents of the cities of Donetsk region face in their daily live with fighting and this fighting, that has now a national character, is ineffective at regional level. - 10 -
Resolving of the conflict in Donbas
For two years the armed conflict has a negative impact on the region’s economic development, security, social aspect and life level of Donetsk and Lugansk regions. There is no a common point of view on the timing of completion of the anti-terroristic operation among respondents, 20% of respondents believe that the conflict will end later this year, 23% expect the completion of ATO in the next 2-3 years, and the majority, 33.85% do not expect the end in the nearest future. As for ways to resolve the conflict, 75.38% of respondents believe that it is only possible through negotiation and diplomatic channels, and only 4.62% consider that this conflict can be solved only by military means. According to respondents, reconciliation and reintegration of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Lugansk regions should be initiated and implemented by both sides of the conflict and the international contact group. - 11 -
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Communication with residents of the occupied territory
In occupied territory of Donetsk and Lugansk regions there are many Ukrainians who have relatives and friends in controlled by Ukraine territory, so the communication with them is important not only as a personal aspect, but also as a strategic tool, thus the inhabitants of the occupied territory break information vacuum and receive alternative information. According to respondents, it is difficult to communicate with the inhabitants of the occupied territory; especially problematic are personal meetings, not non-personal communication.
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The contact line
According to respondents, the order of crossing the contact line depends on regional military and civil administration and military authorities. However, most respondents (66.41%) never crossed the contact line, that is why there is no objective information on conditions and difficulties of procedure.
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Restoration of Donbas
As a result of the hostilities in Donbas many cities have been suffered, including infrastructure, businesses and housing. According to respondents, the responsibility for the restoration of conflict affected facilities is borne by Ukraine, international donors (EU and UN) and Ukrainian oligarchs, whose business is related to the economy of Donbas. The economy of the region was affected significantly, so the state has to take certain measures for its restoration and development, in particular to raise investments and develop development programs, etc. Population of Donetsk believe that Ukraine, above all, has to provide private investors with the state guarantees for capital investment in the most important infrastructure and social facilities, and to create special programs and recovery funds for Donbas involving large multinational business and to create a free economic zone in the region.
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This publication was possible by support from the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany under the project: Enhancing cooperation of newly elected deputies and civil activists in Donetsk region: resources, opportunities, reconciliation�. The contents of this publication are solely responsible Committee of Voters of Ukraine Donetsk regional organization and in no case cannot be taken as the official position of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Team of authors: Valeriy Kochuyev, Roman Kyslenko, Natalia Novykova, Viktoria Zolotukhina. Printed by private entrepreneur J.Zhytynsky: 200 copies (100 in ukrane/100 in english). - 16 -