Eastern Ukrainians Vote for Self-Rule in Referendum Opposed by West

[Comrade Grumpy]

Source: Washington Post

DONETSK, Ukraine — Residents of two regions of eastern Ukraine turned out in significant numbers Sunday to vote in support of self-rule in a referendum that threatens to deepen divisions in a country already heading perilously toward civil war.

The wording of the referendum was vague, asking whether voters favored self-determination rather than outright independence or joining Russia. That meant some of those voting yes wanted more autonomy but not necessarily to split from Ukraine.

But the vote infuriated the Ukrainian government. The Foreign Ministry called it a “criminal farce” arranged by a “gang of Russian terrorists,” reflecting the government’s view that Russian agents are behind the breakaway movement. Many residents who oppose the separatist movement boycotted the vote.

Both the European Union and the Obama administration said they would not recognize the results of the balloting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which they called illegal.

<snip>

The vote will complicate Ukraine’s efforts to reestablish order in the wake of a revolt that ousted the country’s pro-Russian president in February and prompted a backlash in the east. Ukraine has scheduled national elections for May 25. But given Sunday’s result, Lyagin said, “it is not logical to have the presidential election here on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic.” The U.S. and European governments have threatened Russia with further sanctions if the national vote is disrupted.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraines-rebels-say-they-are-seeking-a-mandate-not-independence-in-referendum/2014/05/11/ac02688a-d8dc-11e3-aae8-c2d44bd79778_story.html

---

This is a remarkable even-handed account of events.

[The Magistrate]

1. I Notice, Comrade, You Omit The Claimed Numbers: 75% Turn-Out, 89% Approval

Do you take those figures for honest account, Comrade?

[LanternWaste]

3. It reminds me of a post-war saying straight out of the Moscow factory neighborhoods...

The OP reminds me of a post-war saying straight out of the Moscow factory neighborhoods... "Soviet watches are faster than any others in the world."

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. The rules only allow me to post so many paragraphs.

No, I don't trust those numbers.

That said, the separatists have managed to get a huge number of people out to vote, and this has blown a huge hole in Kiev's plans. The separatists can now plausibly argue that they have popular support.

I don't know how this ends. But I suspect Ukraine is going to be going through some changes, and the map of Ukraine next year may not look like the one from last year.

[The Magistrate]

10. And You Chose Which To Highlight, Comrade

The omission of the gist of the article, the report of the results, strikes me as odd.

That you do not believe the reported totals is noted. Being false, they provide no basis whatever for claims the secessionists have wide popular support. If they did, they would not have resorted to lying about the result of this dragooned vote.

[Comrade Grumpy]

12. Good luck with that. History is galloping right past you.

[The Magistrate]

15. Facts Remain What They Are, Comrade

And the note of triumphalism you strike, and strike on none too solid footing, makes clear, if any doubt remained, that you are aligning yourself with imperialist invasion and annexation of a neighboring state's territory.

[zeemike]

17. I notice we assume it is a lie about the turn out

Based on our own country turnout...and sense it is low here it must be low there...and so they lie.
Australia had a 95% turnout...are they lying about it?
The Ukraine had a 77% turnout in 04...did they lie too?
Ours in 12 was almost 68%...not that much lower than them and they had something important to vote on.
Suspicion is not evidence...and 75% is not over the top.

[The Magistrate]

20. In Australia, Sir, Voting Is Mandatory

Its turn-out figures may be taken as accurate.

The figures you are giving are for percentage of registered voters in the United States; figures for eligible voters, people of voting age, run a good deal lower, typically a bit over fifty percent for presidential years, and around forty percent, sometimes even lower, for off-year elections.

In this instance, there is no registration and no known voter rolls. It is impossible to tel for sure even what the figure is meant to be a percentage of. If the claim is of eligible voters, then taken with the claimed approval totals, we are left to imagine that about two thirds of the adult populace turned out and voted for secession. That is not a believable claim. It runs at well over twice what polling indicated prior to the event. The whole thing is a load of codswallop, any way you look at.

[zeemike]

23. You say it is imposable to know

then you say you know...and don't see the contradiction in it.

[The Magistrate]

26. Not Quite How It Works, Sir

Having said the matter was unclear, I indicated I was treating it as a percentage of eligible voters, which would be the default position in case of there being no known registration rolls.

If one were to take it as a percentage of registered voters, then the claimed percentage would represent an even smaller number of people, since not everyone would be registered to vote, and so the claimed tally would indicate a smaller, though still grotesquely exaggerated, degree of support.

And all this without even getting into the question of whether, in current conditions, not voting really amounted to a no vote, as a species of boycott and product of fear to be seen opposing the secessionists.

The figures given are lies. The only point of dispute is how great the lie.

[zeemike]

31. "not voting really amounted to a no vote"

If that is true then Obama was rejected by the American people.
You don't get to judge it different for us and them.

[The Magistrate]

35. if You Are Going to Pretend intimidation Played No Part In Who Showed Up, Sir

All you are going to manage is to discredit any claim you might make to be worth taking seriously as a commentator.

[zeemike]

44. Well I can't pretend anything because I was not there.

And my guess is neither were you...and yet you seem to know all about it...sir.
But you don't need to take my comments seriously because I am not making claims you are...and claims require proof...or they used to.

[The Magistrate]

56. Sounds Like A Creationist Arguing Against Evolution and The Big Bang, Sir

That is one of the things they tell kids to say against a mean ol' scientist: 'Were you there? How can you say then?'

But there are numerous reports of intimidation in recent weeks in these areas, no question that men with guns and clubs are on the street, and no doubt how they want the 'vote' to turn out. In such situations, most people understand to keep their heads down, and hold silence if they do not agree, and even make an appropriate noise or gesture if safety seems to require it.

[JackRiddler]

59. You really debase yourself, Judge...

Last edited Mon May 12, 2014, 05:30 PM - Edit history (1)

by putting the most solidly supported and demonstrable theory in all of science (evolution) on the same level as some shaky cosmological speculation based on more constructs than observations (the Big Bang) and then equating this with witness reports of political events that happened in a quasi war zone last week. But apparently it works long as you agree with the political line of the witnesses -- which of course you don't if they're talking about the massacres staged in the East by the Kiev-controlled national guard with Right Sector deputies.

[zeemike]

61. Well we are not talking about things that happened billions of years ago

Just yesterday...and creation and evolution is as far removed from this subject as you can get.
But I watched the video clips in this thread of the long lines at the polls....I saw no men with guns and clubs...no people with their heads down and keeping silent...it looked to me like there was no intimidation going on.
But if you think there was then show your evidence.

[The Magistrate]

64. The Pattern Of Argument Is The Same, Sir

And your claim that there is no intimidation at play in areas controlled by armed secessionists could carry only against people who have not been following events over recent weeks and months.

[zeemike]

66. I am making no claim at all.

You are making the claim that there was, and as a Magistrate you should know the burden of proof lies with the one that makes the claim.

And I could easily make the claim that the pattern of your argument is like that too...makeing claims you cannot back up with evidence.
And I have been following this...and there is two sides to this story and you have chosen one...and dismiss the other...and dismiss the fact that the Kiev government came to power not through a democratic process buy by force and is in my opinion illigitimate..as is any coup in a democracy.

[JackRiddler]

58. Also, unlike the coup d'etat government in Kiev.

They didn't have any election, questionable or not. There wouldn't be any separatists if the coalition of neoliberals and extreme rightists had not seized power by force. Let's see what claims they make after May 25.

[ballyhoo]

2. Yes, it was and thank you for posting it. I watched a lot

of the voting from different portals. The people sure looked relatively happy and determined to me. This was the biggest result of the exercise. The next move will be key.

[The Magistrate]

8. Do You, Sir, Accept 75% Turn-Out And 89% Approval As Honest Tallies?

"Enquiring minds want to know!"

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. You've already lost this argument. The referendum will now provide a veneer of legitimacy.

You can critique the vote all you want, but it isn't going to matter. These guys have made a demonstration of popular support, even if there may be less to it than meets the eye.

I think the area is in for some very tense times.

[The Magistrate]

13. It Has No Legitimacy Whatever, Comrade

Your argument calls to mind Mr. Lincoln's old riddle and answer:

How many legs has a dog, if you call a tail a leg?

Four. Calling a tail a leg don't make it so.

[Comrade Grumpy]

14. Tell it to all those people who stood in line and voted.

[The Magistrate]

16. I Have No Reason To Suppose, Comrade, They Are More Than A Quarter of Eligible Voters

Polling data was giving an upper range of about one in four supporting secession, consistently, over the past several weeks.

You acknowledge the tally given is fraudulent, and yet somehow still struggle to cite the event as making legitimate secession of eastern Ukraine.

[polly7]

18. It has every bit as much legitimacy as does the unelected gov't by coup

that's trying to prevent them from having a voice, even now. Ukrainian citizens - equal in every way and free to decide their own fate.

[The Magistrate]

21. It Is Not An Honest Count, Ma'am: It Is A Lie

Certainly the men under arms who tell the lie have what right might may bring to impose their intent on people living where they control, but that does not alter the clearly evident fact they are lying about the tally, which makes it impossible to honestly cite this as indication of popular will in eastern Ukraine.

[polly7]

25. I thought we were talking about legitimacy?

You wouldn't accept the results if they were reported by your personally approved sources (whatever they are, you won't say), because you don't believe the vote has any legitimacy in the first place.

[The Magistrate]

27. The Reported Count Is A Lie, Ma'am

You do not even put up any serious argument in favor of its truthfulness.

The people who arranged this election are secessionist rebels, supported openly by a foreign power bent on annexation. Those are statements of fact, not opinion.

[polly7]

28. The people who 'voted' in this election are Ukrainian 'citizens'

with every right to decide their own fate. But you can make them into terrorist rebels/insurgents - whatever you like. Your opinion of them hardly matters though, they'll eventually do as they choose, and whatever that is, I'll be glad for them.

[The Magistrate]

33. They Could Be Flying Fish For all the difference It would Make, Ma'am

To the fact that the men under arms in eastern Ukraine are secessionist rebels sponsored by a foreign power bent on annexation, and determined to bring it about whatever the region's populace might actually want.

[polly7]

36. No, men and women in eastern Ukraine are not rebels any more than those in the

rest of Ukraine operating under an illegal, brutal gov't trying to stop them from choosing whatever option they please ......... something the coup was meant to prevent them from doing.

To you, I'm sure they are as important as flying fish.

Annexation!! ..... Good grief.

[The Magistrate]

37. People Who Take Up Arms Against a Government Are In Rebellion Against It,Ma'am

Russia intends annexing eastern Ukraine.

The gravitational pull of the moon causes tides in the oceans.

This is all pretty basic stuff....

[polly7]

38. Russia does not intend annexing Ukraine. You need to read more.

But .... these people?

&hd=1

&hd=1

&hd=1

&hd=1

&hd=1

&hd=1

&hd=1

&hd=1


Against this 'gov't'?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-hughes/the-neo-nazi-question-in_b_4938747.html

[The Magistrate]

41. Russia Intends Annexing Eastern Ukraine, Ma'am, As It Has Already Annexed Crimea

And it does not matter what opinion piece or video you cite: it is a fact.

[polly7]

42. You're wrong.

No comment on the crowds?

[The Magistrate]

43. Russia Has Not Annexed Crimea, Ma'am?

It has, and it intends annexing the Donets as well....

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it does."

[polly7]

45. The interim gov't and their brutal tactics, basically handed Crimea to Russia on a silver platter.

But ..... the people of Crimea voted overwhelmingly for it. Why do you hate democracy?

[The Magistrate]

46. That Is A Yes, Russia Annexed It

And as for the 'vote' there:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014797263

[polly7]

48. The people of Crimea chose not to live under the brutal coup-sponsored gov't.

Your obsessive hatred for all things Russia is so great you can't even try to understand their reasoning.

[The Magistrate]

50. Russia Annexed The Crimea, Ma'am: It Intends Annexing The Donets

The figures reported from Crimea's 'vote' were lies. So are the figures reported from the 'vote' in the Donets.

Next you will be arguing Tuesday does not really come after Monday and before Wednesday....

[The Magistrate]

53. And That Line, Ma'am, Has barely Lasted An Hour....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014802509

East Ukraine separatists seek union with Russia

Source: BBC

A Ukrainian separatist leader is calling on Russia to "absorb" the eastern region of Donetsk after Sunday's referendum on self-rule.

Self-declared Donetsk People's Republic leader Denis Pushilin urged Moscow to listen to the "will of the people".

Ukraine separatists appeal to Moscow for absorption into Russia

(Reuters) - The Ukrainian separatist region of Donetsk appealed to Moscow on Monday to consider its absorption into the Russian Federation to "restore historic justice".

The Ukrainian Prime Minister's office said it had no immediate reaction to the statement by Denis Pushilin, a leading member of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic", at a news conference in largely Russian-speaking Donetsk.

He said Belarus also belonged in a broader union of states that once formed the core of the Soviet Union.

[polly7]

54. I guess it'll be up to the people voting, won't it?

I just hit a quick google search and from at least one account they choose overwhelmingly to remain as part of Ukraine. But the headlines all seem to read "rebels appeal to join Russia"! Not Ukrainian citizens ...... but 'rebels'.

But, why are you complaining about the people seeking it? The coup insured it would happen when they forcefully took captive a whole nation of people already deeply divided as to their wishes for the future of Ukraine. They couldn't afford to wait for a vote ....... what did they expect???

What would you do in the same circumstances as these people who do not recognize the oligarchs and thugs forming this new 'gov't or its planned austerity measures?

[The Magistrate]

57. Read 'Em And Weep, Ma'am

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27369980

Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk say 89% and 96% respectively voted in favour of "self-rule" in the referendums, held a fortnight before Ukraine's presidential elections.

Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov said the turnout for the referendum was much lower than the figure of 75% claimed by the rebels.

"According to the Interior Ministry... about 24% of people eligible to vote took part in the so-called referendum the Luhansk Region and slightly over 32% in the Donetsk Region," he said.



http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/12/us-ukraine-crisis-union-idUSBREA4B0HW20140512

The Ukrainian separatist region of Donetsk appealed to Moscow on Monday to consider its absorption into the Russian Federation to "restore historic justice".

The statement, the day after a referendum on self-rule that rebels said had mustered some 80 percent support, was certain to infuriate Kiev and anger Western states who believe the rebellion has been engineered by the Kremlin.

Statement by Denis Pushilin, a leading member of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic", at a news conference in largely Russian-speaking Donetsk.

He said Belarus also belonged in a broader union of states that once formed the core of the Soviet Union.

"Based on the will of the people and on the restoration of an historic justice, we ask the Russian Federation to consider the absorption of the Donetsk People's Republic into the Russian Federation," he said.

"The people of Donetsk have always been part of the Russian world. For us, the history of Russia is our history."

[polly7]

71. You know what, they're going to do what they want to do!

Again......... why are you so angry at the people/'rebels'/'terrorists' for any of this?

THEY didn't cause it ..... if the planners of the coup and those who placed themselves into 'leadership' roles hadn't been so brutal, stupid, arrogant, greedy and pathetically anxious to sacrifice them all to IMF policies half of them opposed already, we wouldn't be seeing any of this. They could have waited for an election - but we all know why they didn't.

[Tom Rinaldo]

24. That "coup government" as you call it

Yes, it is extra-legal in a basic sense - but the people who replaced the last legally elected President were legally elected themselves. The various "break away" governments from what I have seen are simply self appointed - by self appointed activists. The last President of Ukraine lost the support of the elected members of his own political coalition in parliament. not to mention the opposition.

[uhnope]

4. yes, "even-handed"--unlike RT or the rest of the Putin-controlled press

since all independent news outlets have been closed down in Russia since the beginning of Putin's rule.

A bit too even-handed, if you ask me. The world recognizes this vote as a farce, like the one in Crimea that even the Kremlin accidentally revealed to be bogus

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. Or the Kyiv Post? All these complaints about one-sided propaganda...

...would be more credible if they acknowledged that there's propaganda coming from all sides.

And of course there is. And DUers love to engage in the propaganda wars.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

40. Kyiv Post isn't even close to the propoganda posted in Russian state owned media.

Say what you want about the Post, but it is independently owned and many of its stories interview people from varying viewpoints.

You'd never see anything like that from RT.

[JackRiddler]

60. "Independently owned"

means nothing in itself.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

63. It means there's a lot less likelihood that they are just spouting whatever the government wants.

Government isn't in and of itself bad--far from it--but two things government shouldn't be mixed with: religion and media.

[JackRiddler]

65. Nothing of the sort.

"Privately owned" means absolutely nothing with regard to an outlet's biases, accuracy, integrity or quality. Zero. It does say the outlet relies on advertising, sales or ratings, as well as the whim of whatever entity owns it, and so its editorial line will be accordingly vulnerable. Or else, it means some rich motherufkcer willing to lose money in the service of an ideological struggle, like Rupert Murdoch with the NY Post.

Self-evidently there should be publicly owned media, and they are often far superior to privately owned outlets. They are often subject to requirements that they bring a variety of views. They almost always deliver higher quality than their private counterparts.

PBS/NPR are lame and support U.S. policy as well as the cult of militarism. But they are incomparably better and fairer than FOXNEWS, or for that matter NBC (until recently owned by a major military contractor).

Most Germans understand why they prefer ARD for the news, rather than RTL or BILD. There is a reason why the right-wing austerity government in Greece killed the state media ERT, while its brutal policies are promoted constantly by the private channels ANT1 and MEGA. Meanwhile, all of the "privately owned" (oligarch) media in Venezuela have engaged unanimously in a constant and odious propaganda war on the government there. Unanimously. In a country where the majority has voted for that government a dozen times. Once again illustrating that of course there is an inherent political bias in the private ownership of mass media!

Your view is shockingly misinformed!

[Igel]

32. Ekho Moskvy isn't too bad.

Dozhd' tries to be even-handed.

Dozhd' is on the ropes, and Ekho's been threatened more than once. Both are retreating to relatively low-cost means of presenting their media wares.

[uhnope]

49. thx. what about that old Moscow English weekly started by expats? Still around?

[firesalesman]

5. The solution is some kind of "autonomy" within Ukraine.

Lots of other nations provide for this. Examples here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_autonomous_areas_by_country

[ColesCountyDem]

6. Comrade Stalin would be pleased.

"It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything."

--Joseph Stalin

[penultimate]

19. Talk about an expertly executed and highly efficient election system they put in place...

Hopefully now you naysayers see the benefits of the pre-filled ballot concept.

[EX500rider]

30. It does deem to streamline the process some.....lol

[Tom Rinaldo]

22. Even handed? Surely you jest.

Any reporting that fails to immediately observe that the results supposedly being reported are from an "election" organized by one very partisan side in a very divisive dispute with no credible neutral third party election monitors monitoring it is a FAIL. It seems safe to say that voter intimidation from all sides can be rampant in the Ukraine currently, but in the areas where these specific "elections" were held there have been credible reports of detainment and outright disappearances of those who opposed the agenda of those "holding a referendum".

Would any of us trust an election that was totally orchestrated and conducted by by Americans for Prosperity? Would Fox viewers trust an election organized by and conducted by the Earth Liberation Front? It amazes me how mainstream media tends to dutifully report the results of international elections of all stripes with little questioning of their fundamental legitimacy.

Which is not to say that there isn't some useful information in this story, but still...

[Comrade Grumpy]

51. Yeah, the Washington Post is just another link in Putin's propaganda chain. Right.

[Tom Rinaldo]

52. "It amazes me how mainstream media tends to dutifully report the results..."

I never claimed they are part of Putin's propaganda chain. They are the mainstream press with whatever that entails. Often it entails intellectual laziness for lack of a better term. The same people who bring you "both sides do it" reporting...

[EX500rider]

29. Quote from BBC: "Organisers in Donetsk announce the results just hours after the voting ended"

My they count fast over there.....lol

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27369980

[Igel]

34. It helps when you know the answer ahead of time.

Rather like a teacher solving a problem on the board. No matter how complicated the solution, no matter how many steps, it's a slam dunk that he'll work through it quickly *and* get the right answer.

Esp. since he has the pre-printed answer key, 3rd edition to dispose of any pesky typos and errors.


Today's pictures are different. I don't know how many polling station pictures I've seen where there's 4-5 people standing around the polling place as somebody casts a vote and the lone poll worker watches. Versus yesterday, where there are huge crowds and a row of empty buses down the street and not at the bus depot. Oddly, most of the huge crowds seemed to be at one of just a few buildings.

(Then there's the result with a fair turnout as well for annexation to Dnepopretrovsk--a referendum just as illegal but not mentioned in the west. The difference there, though, is that they're reporting turnout not based on percentage of some unknown figure; they state the number of ballots cast by raion, and then the percentages. The numbers might be fictitious still, but they're at least numbers with units and refer to possible actual things.)

[Ash_F]

55. That timeframe is typical. I have worked elections.

You don't know what you are talking about. Glad I could help.

[EmilyAnne]

67. You have this all figured out because you "worked elections?"

Did you work the first post-Soviet election in rural Uzebekistan?

Or did you work the last mayoral election in Rio de Janeiro after the Olympics decision was made?

Or how about the 1960 presidential election in Biloxi, MS?

Good grief.

[Ash_F]

70. See post #69. /nt

[EX500rider]

68. Riiiggghttt..... "elections" thrown by break away rebels are ALWAYS aboveboard..lol

...and meticulously planned no doubt.

[Ash_F]

69. I know that reading is hard

... but I was commenting on your assertion that the turn-around time of a few hours was unusual or suspicious, not making any statement about whether the election as a whole was clean. I personally think the US should have pushed for UN elections observers.

So again, a few hours is normal. I bet you didn't know that. You learn something new every day at Demcraticunderground.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

39. We'd like to thank the 5.6 billion residents of Donestk who overwhelming voted Yes. nt

[Igel]

47. Here's another "even-handed" view of events.

http://www.unian.ua/politics/917172-blizko-25-milyoniv-jiteliv-donbasu-vzyali-uchast-v-opituvanni-pro-priednannya-do-dnipropetrovschini.html

Близько 2,5 мільйонів жителів Донбасу взяли участь в опитуванні про приєднання до Дніпропетровщини
Загалом працювало понад 40 виборчих дільниць, також діяли пересувні скриньки для голосування.
...
За попередніми даними комісії, в Луганській області в опитуванні взяли участь понад 975,6 тисяч людей, у Донецькій – 1 мільйон 467 тисяч. Керівник комісії Михайло Лисенко уточнив, що це ще неповні дані, не всі дільниці наразі відзвітували про кількість учасників.
...

Nearly 2.5 million residents of the Donbas took part in polling on annexation to Dnipropetrovschyna (i.e., the Dnipropetrovsk oblast and region).
There were more than 40 polling precincts as well as mobile voting booths.
...
According to the lastest information from the commission, in Lugansk oblast more than 975.6 thousand people took part in the polling, and in the Donetsk oblast 1 million 467 thousand. Commission head Mikhailo Lysenko explained that these are still preliminary figures, not all preincts have reported in yet...."

Lest you mock the "mobile voting booths" that's how a lot of the voting was done away from the cameras in Luhansk and Donetsk according to reporters and observers, so you can consider this tried and true. (At least those areas had polls. Much of Luhansk had no signs of any place to vote.)

As for the count ... it's rather like having Mariupol's polling workers process well over 45 voters per minute, non-stop for 12 hours. Truly in the realm of fiction.

And, well, this is just as important a poll as any other. But because the Ruler speaks and blesses one, we must listen. All bow down to the Putler and give obeisance, tovarisch.

(There were two other referenda that also occurred yesterday. We can assume that the one for annexation to Great Britain didn't have a large turnout. I forget what the other one was.)

Legitimacy is what's granted. By treating these numbers as factual, they assume the importance of facts. By isolating the Puta-in-chief and his personal worldview, however it's shared by low-information viewers in Russia, this also becomes a kind of fact. One can enable or one can oppose.

[Iterate]

62. Give due credit to those who predicted the outcome --a full week earlier.

Don't need no Nate Silver.

It would be shared as pure comedy gold if it wasn't leveraged for such a sick purpose.

It's subtitled, but here's a partial transcript:

Boitsov: The troops are landing... Donetsk won't stand up...

If we don't get support, if Russia does not bring its troops, we will be fucked up. I am cancelling the referendum set for the 11th, because it can't be held. We can't conduct it lawfully as long as these cocksuckers are here.

Barkashov: Dima, Dima Dima, there is no way that you cancel it. It will mean that you got scared...

Boitsov: No, we are not scared at all. We simply can't hold it, we're not ready.

Barkashov: Dima, just flog whatever you want. Write something like 99% down... Are you going to walk around and collect papers? Are you fucking insane? Forget it, fuck them all...

Boitsov: Got it.

Barkashov: Write that 99%... well, not 99%... let's say 89% voted for the Donetsk Republic. And that's it, fucking shit.

...

Barkashov: I was the first to write to the president, then Zhirik , Zyuganov ... In the end everyone spoke on TV, even Kadyrov by the evening...

Boitsov: Everybody will turn their backs on him - Russia, Ukraine, Belarus - if he does not help.

Barkashov: What the fuck is our damn tricky president waiting for? I have no fucking idea... People are already writing and they are very indignant. They come down on him but that's what I can't do... I'm just not in a position to call him names and come down on him. You understand?

Boitsov: Of course, it's certainly a mess.

This was from an SBU intercept of a call between the leader of the "Orthodox Donbass" Dmytro Boitsov and Aleksandr Barkashov, the leader of the Russian National Unity movement in Moscow. Russian National Unity is a neo-Nazi political group, active since the early 90s.

Barkashov insists that cancellation or postponement cannot be allowed to take place, and that the results should be fabricated if need be. Barkashov then mentions that “everyone is keyed up, even [Chechen leader Ramzan] Kadyrov” and that he had written to Vladimir Putin concerning the events.

Neo-Nazis in the Donetsk Republic? Well, yes, the self-described “people’s governor” Pavel Gubarev is a former member of the Russian National Unity paramilitary group, and this suggests that ties to the group are still strong. Gubarev has arrested on March 6th.

I've not seen the authenticity of the recording challenged anywhere.