Actually, the referendum in 1994 separated Donbass from Ukraine 20 years ago

Not many people remember that the referendum concerning national form of government of Ukraine took place more than 20 years ago, in 1994. And the majority of citizens gave the response Yes.

And people forgot about it, because they were too busy with one question, how to survive. People were preoccupied how to survive in turbulent 90-s, when the state actives were shared. They had to survive in 2000-s, when people understood that they occurred in state of slave “at plantations” of oligarchs. And people have to survive now when this people are being sent to fratricidal war, so-called ATO.

Thus, the first round of elections of MP to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine took place on 27th March 1994. Be reminded, they were chosen in 450 majority constituencies all around the country. The consultative inquiry was at the electoral districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

The regional referendum in Donbass had such sophisticated title. What were asked people of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions?

The first question was: ‘Do you agree with the adoption by the Constitution the federal-land structure of Ukraine’?

The second question: ‘Do you agree with the adoption by the Constitution of Ukraine Russian language as state language of Ukraine together with Ukrainian language?’

The third question: ‘Do you agree that the language of paper work and documentation in the territory of the Donetsk (Lugansk) region and also language of education and science together with Ukrainian language?’

The fourth question: it was formulated indistinctly: ‘Are you pro the signing of the Statute of NIS, full participation of Ukraine in economic union, Antiparliamentary Assembly of NIS?’

Voting turnout on 27th 1994 was 72% in the Donetsk region and 75% in the Lugansk region.

The support of each question was from 80 to 90%. The results of the inquiry were published in the newspaper Donbass dated from 1st April 1994 for the Donetsk region and Zhizn’ of Lugansk dated from 2nd April 1994 for the Lugansk region.

Unfortunately, the events of 1994 year were forgotten. Be reminded that in June-July 1994 two rounds of elections of the president were held. As a  result Leonid Kuchma won.