Donetsk, Feb 21 – DAN. The 'reintegration' bill signed by Ukrainian president Petr Poroshenko provides him with unprecedented political and military powers, said DPR Operations Command deputy commander Eduard Basurin.
"The signed 'reintegration' bill is, first of all, strengthening president's authority. This is the only president with such unprecedentedly vast powers, as far as to declare martial law without the parliament's consent. He is also empowered to cancel any election events including when it comes to martial law imposition. Third, it is the right to use Ukrainian armed forces on the territory of Ukraine."
Basurin said Poroshenko has "given himself free rein to take any decision, both political and military".
Earlier DPR acting Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova said The enactment of Ukrainian law on Donbass 'reintegration' wipes out a possibility of peaceful settlement in the region, while DPR envoy to the Minsk negotiations Denis Pushilin said that the bill will not save Ukraine's leaders from retribution for violence against their people.
Petr Poroshenko signed the bill On the peculiarities of state policy on ensuring Ukraine's state sovereignty over temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Lugansk regions", the so-called Donbass reintegration law on February 20, after the country's parliament had adopted it on January 18 with 280 voices.
The bill defines Donbass as an 'occupied territory' and Russia is recognized as an aggressor state. Lawyers agree that the 'reintegration' implied by the law is actually a legal permission to extensive use of force to settle the conflict in Donbass which is a direct violation of the Minsk Agreements aimed at a peaceful solution. *otф