Quote Originally Posted by UhOhXplode View Post
The Donetsk region voted 89.07% for self-determination. For Lugansk, it was 96.2%.
Ok, the question is, how many percent participated, how honest was the vote counting etc...?
This to me seems less clearcut than Crimea.
It very much appears like those who are against self determination did not bother voting. The question is how many were that?

For this particular referendum, sure it gives an indication, but I don't have the impression that it would stand for much international scrutiny, whereas Crimea would have...

Not to say it's phony or that they deliberately cheated - I wouldn't know, and clearly a lot of people are FOR.
But what precisely did they vote for? They had nothing concrete beyond "more self-determination" and after the referendum the first thing they do is call Moscow and ask for annexation.

Although I sympathise with these people it's just not as professional or convincing as it could be.
Which is why it seems ludicrous to believe that Russia is pulling the strings.

And I pity the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk people states.
If they can't pull something off, they are at risk of some very long prison sentences I imagine.

All of this makes me think of a REAL and genuine working class uprising situation. Even the language they use. It's not polished and it's not impressive. Remains to see what they can pull off and whether they are all alone or have friends in Russia.... I have a lot of sympathy for them.