Donetsk, Apr 7 - DAN. Donetsk People’s Republic Head Denis Pushilin extended his best wishes to the Republic’s residents on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of the declaration of the DPR establishment.

“Six years ago to date, on April 7, 2014, a historic event occurred as the declaration of the Sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic was adopted, which launched the development of our state,” Pushilin said in a statement. “Later on, a referendum was held at which a majority of Donbas residents approved this pivotal decision.”

The move in the spring of 2014 was necessary in the process of restoring historic justice, he added. “Neither war nor other hardships can stop us from reaching the main objective. We will continue to follow the path we have chosen,” the DPR leader said.

Sixe years ago, Donbass saw massive rallies of opponents to the coup d’ etat in Kiev. On April 6, 2014, protesters in Donetsk occupied the building of the regional administration showing their irreconcilable position towards the government overthrow by ultranationalists in Kiev and their plans to limit the rights of the Russian-speaking population, join NATO and sever good neighbourly relations with Russia. On April 7, the establishment of a new state - the Donetsk People’s Republic - was announced.*jk